\m\R
H. C. CLARK, Editor and Proprietor.
ERIE, PA., JANUARY, 1886.
Vol. 1.— No. 1.
SALi'TATIOX.
In presenting to the public TnK
Ami:hic.\n Pe.\m.\x, we do so with a
sense of tlie great responsibility rest^
ing upon us, and it is not the intention
to denounce the several publications
tliatappear from time to time well filled
with valuable reading relative to the
interest of Penmanship and the pro-
fession in general, but to i)ubli5li a
strictly first-clas<t monthly journal,
contributing its share of information
towards tlie upbuilding and maintain-
ing of practical and ornamental Pen-
manship, and a business education.
The number of poor writers tlirough-
nut tlie country is alarmingly great,
phshed. That flourishes skillfully
executed are very attractive is not de-
nied, and while many may bring pen
flourishing into ridicule, we maintain
that no penman is warranted in ignor-
ing the practice and proper use of
flourishes as contributing materially
to the advantage of the penman's pro-
fession.
To those who may dissent from this
opinion, the columns of The Ameri-
can Penman are open for a free and
unbiased discussion, to which mem-
bers of the profession are cordially in-
vited to contribute.
The American Penman will be
strictly independent in its efforts to
put forth the latest ideas advanced by
y it is a disease ratlier [ "le different authoi-s and publisher
than ignorance, for it is a conceded , "f "n' several systems of practical pen-
fact that many well educated peojile , manship that are now pubhshed, or
become imbued with the idea " that 'n»y apjjear in the future. It is the
only a certain few were ever born to ' I'lain writing to which we should give
be good writers ;" consequently they particular attention, for there
are hopelessly lost, so far as their jien-
manship is concerned, as Providence
neglected to confer upon them the re-
quisite gift, (?) which of course is very
amusing to those who, by hard work,
have attained a high degree of excel-
lence in practical penmanship.
The Amkrk'ax Penman firmly be-
lieves that good writing comes from
study and jjractice, rather than by any
so-called natural gift, although it' must
Ite admitted that for one to become
iMiiinent in any profession, he must be
thorouglily in love with 'his chosen
i-alling, and must have sufficient nat-
ural ability to discern between good
and poor results. The majority of
Ijeople cannot appreciate fine ait de-
liartments of penmanship, such as
embellishing, lettering, flourishing,
pen drawing, &c., and nof unfre-
quently we hear it asked : " Of
what value is such knowledge
Please to send us the names of your
friends whom you think likely to sub-
scribe.
Remember The American Penman
will be mailed regularly, until further
notice, at fifty cents per .year, or in
clubs of six to ten at forty-five cents,
or to clubs of fifteen to thirty at forty
cents, and the one getting up the club
may retain ten per cent, for his services.
We shall be jileased to jtublish
short biographical sketches of young
l)onman, and whenever jn-aeticable
will print fiK simik of hand writing
and portrait. Those desiring to con-
tribute to the paper in this matter will
please inform us and send specimens.
brand) of education so much neglect-
ed in the common schools, and none
that deserves more attention at the
hands of school officers, parents and
school children.
Each issue will have a lesson in
practical writing and pen flourishing,
to which departments it is the inten-
tion to present the ideas of the best
teachers who are wiUing to enlighten
the readers of The .-Vmehican Penman
upon any theme its mission repre-
sents, and not only each member of
the profession, but everybody, is in-
vited to contribute at least fifty cent.'
before the next number appeal's, and
as much more as may be found con-
venient in short articles in relation to
any practical subject.
Ho]>ingTHE American Penman will
fulfill all expectations of its friends,
and that it will prove a welcome guide
to those starting out on the road
Every young penman should aspire
to true excellence in the profession,
and not only become worthy of the
honor and profit conferred upon mem-
bers, but take a deep interest in every-
thing that will directly or indirectly
help to elevate the standard of pen-
manship among all classes.
The most successful penmen are
those who stand by the doctrines of
truth, carefully shunning hypocricy in
building a reputation upon another's
skill, as no substantial success can
ever be expected when such practices
are followed. *' Be sure you are right,
then go ahead."
PROFESSIONAL FALSIFIERS.
It is to be regretted that every pro-
fession lias its frauds and quacks, but
especially painful to find those who
seem to take special pride in lowering
the profession of penmanship by
claiming to ilo wonderful things with
the pen, when in fact they can do
nothing at all, and in many cases ob-
tain some beautiful writing or draw-
ing from a conscientious penm'm and
pa.ss it off for an original design, the
deceiver affixing his name as the de-
signer, cxecuter and originator.
The AmerK'an Penman considers
such tilings a miscraljle dece]ition, and
one that it will try to expose in
every way possible, in order that the
rued of thesi?
way to
•nmfituri
id the
cause
Every teachc
icmber th;it 1
is hands thr .
1 thisimpiHtiii
■ of writing sliould re-
■ pnirtirallv holds in
>iiii> "f his stud
■ art, and he who
skill, can it ever be put to any i)rac- '" successful attainments in the chi
tical or remunerative use'?" which
naturally gives rise to scum .li-iii--i, 111,
and especially so of ll.nn i-lmrj i. -
warding the executing of liinl>, . a:;l. -,
scrolls, lions, &c. There arc not a few
suod common sense busincfls educa-
tors whose hair would be Ukcly to
luru gray at the thought of liaving a
1 lenman in their employ, that was at
■ill inclined to flourisli, regardless of
'lie earni-i -nliriiaiion ..fan admiring
I'Vblicaiilil,.-. ...nilriin-nwillproba-
hlycontiiiiH 1,. |,n,i,si against the use
of ftourislies until the total extirpa-
tion of the same has been aeconi-
graphical art, as well as to those who
have reached the zenith 'of jirofession
a I prosperity, we herewith submit th<
first number of The .American Pen
TO OCR FRIENDS.
The American Penman will be
made a thorough and progressive
liaper, and we earnestly desire our
friends to help extend its circulation
until there shall not be a boy or girl,
man or woman interested in good
writing, that does not become a regu-
lar subscriber.
strong hold upon the confidence of
his class will rapidly walk to the front
an instructor. " Live teachers " is
' cry, and one devoid of enthusiasm
is like a railway engine without fuel or
■r; both are powerless to do much.
ly good.
public may be foi
dangerous imposti
There is only c
profession of tlicsi
the evcriasting d
perjietratoi's of such deccjitive prac-
tices, and that is to expose any one
known to be palming off somebody
else's writing or drawing for his own.
There are a few wiio have recently
been exposed through some one of
the penmen's papei-s, liut not all have
met their fate, and it is to be earnestly
hoped that every honest man in the
profession will make it a part of his
I unqualified duty to inform tlic public
I through the eohumis of The Ameri-
can Pensian or some one of the jour-
nals now published in the interest of
good writing, of any one guilty of such
a misdenicannr.
Kvcry iienman should let his work
speak for itself, as he will receive
much greater glory and fame in the
Every hoy ai
ting a start in » i
for TheAjimi.
cents.
d gii
is just get-
1 subscribe
:. as it will
isorihe now
ar for Hftv
long nil
reputalii
else.
Ihi
l.V t!
lilies
■ying to build a
kill of somehodv
The way to make The American
Penman a great success is for each one
receiving a sample copy to pass it
around and try to secure a larger club.
We hoiie our friends will help to cir-
culate the " Penman " by not only
subscribing but asking their
ances to do likewise.
There is no young man or lady
laking an efl'ort to obtain a good halifl
writing that can afford to be without
Thk.Vmeriian Penman. The invalu-
ble hints and lessons upon practicfil
penmanship in eacOi number arc wortli
the jirice of subscription to an.y one.
Rememlier, if you suliscribe now you
will get the paper one year for .'lU
cents.
.So.ME one of the iiojiular Friday
norning addresses delivered to the
tudents of Clark's College will be
t- 1 published in each number of Tin:
' .UlERICAN Pkn.MAN.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The Anfieman Pennfian,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By H- C Clark, Editor and Proprietor.
Buicred at the Erie Poatofflce u Second Class Hatter.
LESSON IN PRACTICAL PENMANSHIP.
ERIE. PA., JANUARY, 18S6.
A PRINTERIAN HINT.
A poor old printer siands silent and glum.
With types well pois'd 'tween finger and thumb,
And eyes ^.lanting up exp^e»i^ive of doubt
If ihe words he has set are clearly made out,
And a look on his face that tells of his scorn
Of the old-fashioned quill and ink in a horn,
And the scrawls on his copy, meant to be words
That looks like the tracks of snails or of birds.
Bui pat
, and learning, and good-natured
^ill
Won\ turn into sense these words with a quill.
He peers up and down for the cap letter O
As a key lo the noun that puzzles him so —
He spies out a letter, and has it he thinks,
When lo ! it's an i in the spelling of sphinx !
He rubs up his glasses and starts off again
To get ai the thread of the intricate train,
And a tear trickles down on the end of his nose
As he carefully quarries the words of the prose.
He\ doubtful of p and the /"and the j —
"They're made just alike !" he whispers to say —
''SVritwitli /■'lit ink on the end of a quill
By a gaveruitient clerk, 'wifh his usual skill P'
He reads along further to get at Ihe gist,
And scans very closely each pothook and twist ;
But he finds that the <y is made like the^
And the r and the v exactly agree ;
And as to the caps, why the 7" is an /,
And that jV is an ^ there's none will deny;
For Ahe has /"and sometimes the L,
And which one is meant he can't always ttll.
He finds now an / that looks like a ^
And an I, undotted, which answers for e ;
And the u and the w are always alike,
And look just as though they were made with a
If he wishes for /; il's a very good k.
But that never stands very much in his way;
But the a and the o, when made just the same,
Are apt to confound in a tough proper name.
Vou may see how complete is the printer non-
plussed,
But never can feel his thorough disgust,
Nor the dread that awaits the proof-reader'^
skill
When the poor fellow's copy is writ with a
quill.
The characters found on the tombs of Luxore
Still live in the hand of Ben: Perley Poore,
And the artistic script on Belshazzar's wall
Is fairly outdone by Bob Ingersoll !
The Lojvell and Holmes and Whittier quill
Ha^ made the world cry and laugh at its will;
But, like gold in the mine, or pearl in the shell,
It takeih much labor to quarry it well.
The words that are said about each little line
You may think are profane or truly divine;
But you never may know, nor never can guess
What trouble it is to correct for the press !
O. man of great genius! think not of thyself
When wooring the muse for honor and pelf,
Hut strive to obtain ihe printer's good will
Hy writing quite plain, but not with a quill !
Ihiiik always of him who woiks in the night
By the glare and the flare of the hot gaslight.
Whose days are all told while yet he is young-
\Vho dieth unl;nown. while thy glory is sung!
—S. 7. Bates.
The standard Pen Holder sent us by
Mr. Madarasz is well udupteU to the u
of professional penmen. Read Mr. M
advertisement in another column.
The art of writing, man's second
tongue, should receive more attention
than is accorded to it, and especially by
those to whose success in many spheres
of usefulness it may contribute so large-
ly. In treating of the subject of pen-
manship, in the hope of awakening a
greater interest in this most useful
branch of education, we must necessa-
rily devote our attention to that depart-
ment of the art which may be most
easily applied to use in the business pur-
suits of men.
People are partial to everything that
gives them facility in the transaction of
business, and increases their power to
make money; and to engage them in the
matter of writing, it is only necessary to
present some feasible method of ac(iuu"-
a style of penmanship adapted to
universal application. Many teachers
of writing and schools of penmanship
fail to accomplish the most desirable re-
sults in this branch of education from
giving too exclusive attention to "fine "
penmanship, and not enough to practi-
cal business writing.
While a few persons may find it to
their advantage to become artiatic. pcn-
n, all should possess a, practical hand
ting, which we deem to be a style
that can be executed rapidly and easily,
and possessing legibility and grace.
Rapidity and ease of execution are the
most essential elements of a good hand
iting; without tliese, in the press and
bustle of business life, whatever degree
of excellence it may possess in other re-
spects, it will most likely be allowed to
deteriorate intonn unintelligible scrawl.
Legibility is an important element, but
it is valued more by the reader of writ-
ing than by the writer. Nine out of
every -ten business men write rapidly
whether they make their writing legible
or not, as they would rather waste some
other person'stimethan their own. This
fact alone is sufBeient argument to prove
that only such instruction as shall ijut it
into the power of the student to acquire
a rapid hand writing with as great a de-
gree of legibility as may be consistent
therewith, can be expected to produce
any very satisfactory results in making
the study of penmanship popular and
progressive.
For those who wish to begin the study
of business writing, we introduce the
following suggestions and exercises:
But little can be accomplished with-
out a correct position at the table, and
an easy, gUdiug movement of the hand.
The above cut illustrates the cor
position at the table. The position of
the chair should be such that its front
edge shall be even wltli the edge of the
table. The writer should sit erect,
the feet resting squarely on the floor in
front, thereby tending to prevent the
writer's leaning too heavily on the table.
The arms should rest in an oblique posi-
tion on the table, the points of the el-
bows being about two inches from its
edge, the left hand serving to hold the
paper in place and to support the body
in an erect position, leaving the right
hand free to glide Ughtly over the paper,
which is placed so that its ruled lines
shall be at right angles with the right
arm. The pen should be held by the
first and second fingers and the thumb,
the holder crossing the second finger at
the roots of the finger nail, the end of
the first finger resting on the holder
about an inch from the point of the pen,
and the corner of the thuiub resting
against the side of the holder opposite
the first joint of the fore finger. The
holder should rest in the hollow between
the knuckle joint of the first finger and
the thumb, as shown by the lower line
of the holder in the following cut illus-
trating the position of the hand and
pen. The third and fourth fingers
should be turned under to serve as a
rest for the hand, which at all other
points should be carried clear frotn the
table. The arm, resting on the table in
an easy relaxed position, should be
turned to the left, so that the end of the
holder shall point directly over the
right shoulder
Assuming the above position, the stu-
dent should practice on easy exercises
adapted to the development of a free
sliding movement of the hand from left
to right in straight lines and in curves,
the muscles of the forearm to serve as a
pivot, at all tunes keeping the hand and
pen in the same relative position, and
permitting the third and fourth fingers,
the support of the hand, to slide with
the pen, describing the same movements.
The following exercises are among the
most suitable for practice, with a view
to the development of the forearm or
muscular movement, without which no
proficiem^y in rapid business writing can
be attained. These exercises should be
taken up in the order in which they are
presented below, each being quite thor-
oughly mastered before the next is at-
tempted. Following these, other similar
combinations can be practiced with
equally as good results.
@.@X^.@>@-@^'
-r?5?^--^;?:2-<?^?'2.-^?^e--'^?^
'^^^
>^^^^if^^'>?5>2^^^2^'?^//^^
) achieve success in this most useful
art, the student must work dilligently,
observing carefully all directions in ref-
erence to the position of body, arm,
hand, pen and paper, an<l to the exer-
cises, to develop freedom of movement,
which gives the power to execute with
ease, rapidity, and accuracy tlie forms
of letters he may afterwards study. I
would urge the great importance of the
muscular movement, for I believe a fail-
ure to comprehend its necessity ie the* 7
cause of the ill-success many students ,
meet with in realizing their anticipated J
skill in writing. Practice upon m
ment exercises is to the learner of 1
ing. what practice upon the scales i
the learner of music, and it is as absurdj
for the one to commence the study of*.
letters and words before having devel-'
oped the power to strike with grace and
accuracy the simplest lines and 1
as for the other to attempt to perform |
classical music on the i>iano before hav-
ing practiced the scales and acquired
the power to strike with ease and accu-
racy each individual note.
As want of space prevents an intro-
duction of all of the letters and the
maimer in which they should be studied.
I would merely suggest that they be
taken up in a systematic order, those
most simple in form to be studied first,
as the small letters, /. u, n, m, etc., and
the capitals involving the use of the
sixth principle as Q, X, \V, etc., these
being most simple in form and easily
made with the muscular movement.
Following these, capitals involving the
use of the fifth principle, as f), C, £, etc.
By examining carefully the letters, (suit-
able styles of which are presented in
most of the copy books in use,) it will be
found that they can be arranged in
groups according to their resemblance
and simplicity of form, so that they may
be studied to much better advantage
than if taken up in the order in which
they occur in the alphabet.
He who undertakes the study of pen-
manship in the hope of improving his
style of writing must i-eganl the art as
of sufficient importance to command
his most earnest efforts and careful at-
tention. Persevering study cannot be
more richly rewarded than if applied to
penmanship, which insoeiety is accepted
as a rare aeeomplishmeut, and in the
business world, a qualification than
which none other is more highly valued.
STATEMENTS.
Writing is not a gift. It is acquired,
and it is aciiuired only by thoughtful,
patient, faithful practitre.
What some people call "flourisir* in
ordinary writing is only keeping up,
"oft times," of that freedoui and easo
of motion, without which no writing is
practical.
Shade is not essential, and by some
considered positively objectionable in
ordinary writing.
Mctttl-tipped penholders are positively
detrimental. They cause "gripping of
the holder," ■■crainppd lingers." and a
consequent slow, jerky iiiotiun,
the f<.rm of the lettt-r.s ami th.
with which they should be ext-c
A. K. }'An^
Wilton .Junction,
Nov. 21, 1885.
1
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
CORRESPONDENCE.
W. J. Kinsley, of Shenandoah, Iowa,
in a iiiHKnifioently written letter, en-
closes his subscription.
WiUianm & Rogers. Rochester. N. Y..
.sends a beautiful written letter.
Prof. Williams is a fine penman,
C, A. French, P. O., BoPton. Mass..
favors us with his subscription and that
ot F. C. Irving, in a well-written letter.
C. H. Pierce, of Keokuk, la., gratifies
us with one of his characteristic letters.
Pierce is a man of ideas, and when he
lets loose, look out.
H. Russell. oftheJoliet (111.) Business
College, writes encouragingly to Thk
American Penman, and he promises to
become a regular correspondent. He is
a good man in the profession.
('. M. Paulk. Principal of the Pen"
niandihip Department of Macomb Nor-
mal College, Macomb, III.,
sends a beautifully written
letter.
C. fj. Swensburg. firand
Rapids, Mich., favors us with
copies of his CoUcf/e Journal,
which are well filled with
pertinent inaiter relative to
his college.
Robert Philip Designer
and Engraver on Wood, Sac-
ramento, Cal.. will exhibit a j
spechiieu of his skill in a fu- :
ture number of Thk Ameri-
can Penman.
D. B.Williams, Penman at '
Bryant's Business College,
Chicago, 111., favors us with
a beautifully written letter '
and a superb set of capital i
letters. He is one of the j
finest penmen in the west. I
W. K. Patrick, Penman at i
Sadler'ti Business College, '
Baltimore,Md.,sendsabeau- I
tifuily written letter. Mr, P, ■
is well-known as a superior penman
imd successful teacher.
W. H. Lothrop, of South Boston,
Mass.. encloses his subscription in a
beautifully written letter. He prom-
ises to contribute to the columns of The
American Penman.
r. C. Curtis, in a beautifully written
letter.encloses fifty cents for The Ameri-
can Penman.
Mr. C. has Commercial Colleges at
Minneapolis and St, Paul, Minn.
A. E. Parsons, Wilton Junction. Iowa,
^•'nds a beautifully written letter, the
penmanshii) indicating a high degree of
skill. He seems to be enthusiastic in
behalf of the chirographic art.
H S. Kneeland, Chadillac Mich., en-
'Inses his subscription in a beautifully
written letter. He says: "As a student
"f writing, I hail Thk American Pen-
man with delight."
H. W. Plickinger, College of Com-
iiieree. Philadelphia, in a beautiful let-
ter. wi^hes us "abundant success."
Mr. F. is one of America's most enn-
I>r.W. F. Roth, of Manheim, Pa.,. sends
11 It-tter, the writing of which is superior
to many professional penmen. We ex-
pect to have the pleasure of presenting
to the readers of The American Pen-
man several articles from his pen.
E. L. Burnett, Business College, Provi-
dence, R I., encloses his subscription in
one of his finely written letters. Mr. B.
is an able and popular teacher of pen-
manship.
J. F. Burner, Elko, Nev., encloses
specimens of his writing with his sub-
scription, and promises to secure a club
for Thk American Penman. We hope
others will do likewise.
W. W. Phipps, International Business
College, East Saginaw, Mich., reports
his school to be in a very prosperous
condition, which serves Mr. Phipps just
right. He is a fine penman and an ex-
cellent teacher,
A N. Palmer, editor of the Wc/tltrn
Penman, Chicago, .says: "We welcome
The American Penman to our ranks
and wish it unbounded success."
Thanks; your kind wishes are appre-
ciated.
O. C. Dorney, a student of H. W.
Kibbe, Utica, N, Y., says : " I hope
V. McKee, of Oberlin. O , favors us
with his subscription in one of the best
written letters received.
Bro. MeKee is a popular penman, and
made it so hot for Michael that he
retreated to Deliiwaro. (rood for Mc-
Kee.
W. D. Showalter. Secretary of Bayliss"
Business College, Dubuque. Iowa, says:
" I know of no one in the profession
more able to conduct a penman's paper,
and you have my best wishes for suc-
cess." We trust Mr. S. will find his
ideal in The American Penman.
E. C. Davis, Providence, R. I,, says:
"Wishing to encourage the birth and
success of The American Penman, as
I believe such a paper is of great benefit
to the masses, I enclose my subscrip-
tion." Mr, D. is right.
D. H. Snoke. Business College, South
Bend, Ind., encloses very creditable
specimens of card writing and flourish-
ing. He says: "] like the name with
which you have christened The Ameri-
can Penman, and trust it will be a gen-
E. K. Isaacs, Valparaiso, Ind„ in a
beautifully written letter, says he wDl
H. W. Kibbe. of Utica, N, Y.. sends
|1 for The American Pksmax. a copy
to be sent to his address and one u> ().
C. Dorney, of AUentown, Pa.
Mr. Kibbe is an artist in penmanship,
and a successful teacher. His letter con-
tained the first cash subscription re-
W. J. Hart, Haddoufield. N. J., says:
" Enclosed please find ^1 for my sub-
acription to TheAmkukax Penman "
He writes a beautiful tiaml, ;uid f vi-
dentty anticipates mucii plcasnie and
good wishes for the welfare of tlu- Pkn-
man, as he encloses a larger sum by one-
half than was necessary.
C. (t. Prince. Secretary of Clark's
Business College. Erie, Pa., writes a
skillful hand and is destined to hold the
fort as the "Prince" of Penmen.
The American Penman wrappers
were addressed by him. and our read-
ers can judge for themselves as to his
ability.
M, B. Cooper, one of the proprietors
and Principal of the Actual Business
Department of the Capital City Com-
mercial College, Columbus, Ohio, en-
closes his subscription in a letter, the
writing of which would be a credit to
aproffssional penman. Mr.
C. thinks he cannot afford
to be without The Ameri-
can Penman.
J. P. Medsgar. Jacob's
Creek, Pa., in a beautiful
specimen of box marking,
says: "If The American
Penman is as good as what
generally comes from your
Institution, you can expect
my support." Mr. Medsgar
was a former student in the
Penmanship Department of
Clark's College, and is a su-
perior penman.
1 Henry C. Spencer. Wa.sh-
j ington. D. C, late President
of the Business Educators'
I Association of America, sub-
' scribes for The American
PENMANand contributes the
poem in this issue known as
r* A Printerian Hint." Mr.
I S. is a live man in the pro-
j fession, and is principal of
one of our leading business
The American Penman will live long
and prosper," which good wishes
hope to experience, in having the best
penman's paper published.
Thomas May Pierce, Principal of
Pierce's College of Business, Philadel-
phia, Pa., favors us with his subscrip-
tion. Mr, Pierce stands high as an able
and influential business educator.
O. M. Powers, principal of the Metro-
politan Business College, Chicago, III.,
says: "I certainly wish you success with
your new publication,'' etc.
Mr. P. is publisher of the " Complete
Accountant." a popular treatise on the
of book-keeping.
H. B. Bryant, Chicago, 111 , sends us
a copy of his Manual of Book-keeping,
which appears to be all the author
claims for a six weeks' course in ac-
counts. Circulars giving full particulars
of the work may be had by addressing
Mr. Bryant.
W. N. Ferris. Big Rapids, Mich., writes
us a beautiful letter and also promises
to contribute to the columns of The
American Penman.
Mr. F. enjoys the reputation of being
an e.\cellent penman and a scholarly
gentleman.
contribute an article each month upon
some department of penmanship.
Mr, I. is a first-class penman and
teacher, and our readers may expect
something interesting from his pen. We
also acknowledge the receipt of several
beautiful slips of writing and flourish-
ing
R. F. Moore, Terrell, Texas, Professor
of Penmanship in the Glendale Institute,
writes that he has one hundred students,
and heartily welcomes the forthcoming
American Penman, promising to do all
in his power to extend its circulation.
He is in a position to do good work,
L. Madarosz, of New York, who has a
national reputation as a superior card
writer, encloses a few samples that are
e.\ceedingly fine. He certainly stands
at the head as a card writer. He also |
sends an elegantly written letter and
flourished eagle, that are seldom if ever
excelled.
D, T. Ames, publisher of the Pcnman'a
Art Journal, New York, says: "I shall
give you no cold shoulder, and there
will be no jealousy between the Journal
and The American Penman."
That is right: we shall try to merit
the good opinion of all, and The Ameri-
can Penman will leeiprocate,
S. A. Drake, .\ssociate Teacher of Pen-
manship in Clark s College, Erie, Pa.,
who has given the lesson in this issue of
I The American Penman, is a thorough
scholar, and though differing some-
what, in methods of teaching with pen-
men generally, nevertheless his lesson ft*
well worth reading and practicing.
C. M. Robinson, Principal of the Union
Business College, Lafayette, ind., in a
well written letter, says: "I will be
pleased to do all I can for The A.meri-
CAN Penman. I enclose ^1 for two
copies."
Prof. Robinson also encloses specimen
copy of his "New Exercise Book," which
seems well adapted to learning move-
ment exercises. Our readers may expect
a letson from him in the February num-
ber.
A. Bushnell. 105 S. 4th Street, Phila-
delphia, Pa., favors us with a sample of
his new copying book, which is the
handiest thing we have ever used. It
is superior to the old machine process,
as it is easily carried from place to place
and a copy of a letter can be taken with
less trouble, producing even better re-
sults. It only costs $1, and to any one
in need of a copying book it is worth
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
^Fhe Afnericafi Penrnan,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By H Z. Clark, Editor and Proprietor,
Erie, Pa.
single wiplcH of Tns AMBBICAN Pbnman win be
I receipt <
ADVERTISING RATES.
Heading matter
given on Reading A
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
one of the best of Its class, anil we do»re tbouaands
. of snliBcrlbers from ull pans of the countrr, and all
pemons mibscrlbtng before January Ut, 1S86, will re-
Weh
PREMIUMS.
aile arraiigenieDls with th
zine published In Chattanooga, Tenn., to furnish
sabscrlplfuii price of the " Pruifress " alone.
To all persons Interesting Iheniselves In be-
half of Thk American Pknman and sending clnbs
of two or more, a discount of 10 per cent, will he
given the one sending the club on all subscriptions
forwarded to Tbe Ambrican Penman. We prefer
to give cash premlnma to those securing clubs, and
this rule will lie Invariably followed.
Rcniinances shoulil lie made bj N. Y. Draft, P. O.
Money Order, Postal Note, or Registered Letter, to
H. C. CLARK. Publisher. Erie, Pa.
new enterprise will be a pronounced
success. Rend the special notice, "To
Our Readers," in another coUinin, as
to clubbing prices with the Pp:x.ma
TO OCR READERS.
We liavc just perfected an exceed-
ingly favoral)le arrangement with the
publishers of the Smit/icni Profjrcss, a
In-nionthly of 00 to 1(H) pages, devoted
to health, happiness and the ujj-build-
ing of tlie South, printed at Chatta-
nooga, Tenn. Dr. Rohbins has been
engaged as editor of the new publica-
tion. He was formerly an editor of
Northwestern Pennsylvania, and for
several years past a traveling corres-
pondent for leading daili{fs. His de-
scriptive writings from the West and
South have been perused with i)leas-
xy:e and profit by many of our read-
ers. The doctor lias advanced ideas
on health and hai)i)iness, and his
philanthropic views in that direction,
are perhaps excelled only by Dr. Dio
Lewis, of New York. The I^-ugr&sn
is well worth its published price (Sl.OO
per annum), but to subscribei*s pay-
ing in advance it will be sent for 1886
with our pajjer atSl.fX) for both. Sub-
scribe at onee. Address
THE AMERICAN PENMAN,
Lock Box 7(>. Ehik. Pa.
We have received advance pages of
the Southern /Vogrcw, a bi-monthly
magazine devoted to health, happiness
and the advancement of the South.
Our old friend. Dr. D. P. Robbins.form-
erly of this city, is wielding tlie pen
and scissoi's, and from his well-known
ability as a writer, editor and mana-
trer, we do not hesitate to sav that the
SHOULD FIXE PENMAySHIP BE
ENCOVRAGEDf
There seems to be no inconsideral)le
number oi people who advocate the
discontinuance of what may be termed
fine penmanship, and would offer in-
stead the old-fashioned round hand,
which is claimed to be much easier to
read, giving advantages in learning to
writ'\ which the present styles mostly
used do not. But it must be confessed
that while the old-fashioned round
hand is plain, devoid of flourishes,
Ac, its tendency is toward a slow
and awkward movement, which, if
carried into practice,would prove a for-
midable obstacle to 1he work of cor-
respondents and book-keepers. Busi-
ness men are constantly demanding
legibility and speed, and are not after
that sort of writing having the largest
number of hair lines or flourishes,
but want such a style as will look neat,
being perfectly plain, and free from
superfluous lines not materially con-
tributing to the finish or plainness of
the letter. Such a hand is what com-
mon sense demands, and one that the
professional penman must be able to
write and teacli, or else he will fail
in his efforts to instruct the boys and
girls in his school those principles of
business which they will be called
upon to use in every day life.
There ie no disguising the fact that
many of our professional writing
teachers seem to care more for the
delicate hair line or the evenness of
the shade, than for the actual legibili-
ty and speed necessary to practica-
bility. The motto : "Teach your boys
that which they will practice when
they become men," pertains to writ-
ing as well as other branches of ])rac-
tical education, and if the teaclier of
writing is anxious to comjdy with the
solicitations of the business com-
munity, he must jmt himself in a po-
sition to teach a good business hand,
and not pay too much attention to
perfect forms, at the cost of not giving
the public such a style of penman-
ship as will be adapted to the require-
ments of a business man. The old-
fashioned round hand should not be
encouraged, but any of the systems
now published are good enough to
draw from, to obtain such styles of
letters as will be the pride of ac-
countants and correspondents.
The American Pekman will be
pleased to ]mhlish the views enter-
tained by business men upon the sub-
ject of practical writing, and respect-
frdly solicits the same.
MICHAEVS PREVARICATIONS.
fourteea
Be then showed from exnmlnatloD papers,
provemcnt made by the children Id the schooli
Erie, their ages ranging from
Daniel T. Ames in writing up the
debate between Prof. Clark and our-
selves, inanufaotureil the above false
hood. We will donate to Ames a nego-
tiable check for $500 to find the above
I assertion in Prof. Clark's speech, which
I we will print in full in the next issu
the Adiocatf. Aiues, let us inforin ,
that Prof. Clark knew better than to go
to the AV/r public schools to get speci-
mens of penmanship to exhibit when
discusfijtig the negative side of the ques-
tion. Prof. Clark sent off to H. C. Spen-
cer, of Washington. D. C, to get speci-
mens to exhibit to the judges on the
evening of the debate. Spencerian
copy books were used in the public
schools of Erie, Pennsylvania, and of
course it was wise for the affirtnative (Q.
W. Michael) to obtain specimens there-
from, as he did.
The above article is clipped from
" Michael's Advocate of Rapid Wriliny
and Biisinenti Education" which hi
been before the public altogether too
long for policy sake, and was some
few months ago branded by Prof.
Ames, publisher of the Peyiman^s Art
Journal, as " The Slang Advocate " which
of course puts Michael in bad light,
and his paper is certainly a disgrace
to modern civilization.
Mr. Michael a few months ago is-
sued a challenge to debate the merits
of the copy book system of teaching
writing, to any teacher in the United
States
His challenge was accepted, and
he came to Erie May 22d last, and he
was effectual beaten in his attempt
to prove that the copy book should
be abolished from the public schools.
Three gentlemen,all professional teach-
ers, sitting as referees, Hstened very at-
tentively, rendering an impartial de-
cision according to the argument, pro-
duced, and ever since Micnael has
been misrepresenting the facts as
brought out in the debate, which of
course can not be wondered at, ac-
cording to the unwholesome reputa-
tion he has acquired as a defamer of
the truth.
We reply to the points taken by
Michael in the above article, as fol-
lows :
First — Prof, Ames never wrote up
the debate, as alleged by Michael, and
even if he did, the article to which
Michael takes exceptions is true, as
we produced upwards of oOO speci-
mens from the public schools of Erie,
showing a fine improvement from
copy book instruction.
Secondly — Mr. Michael has never
seen the negative's speech printed in
full, as only a summary was ever pub-
lished, and that appeared in "Clark's
CoLLE«E Quarterly."
Thirdly — The specimens of stu-
dents' improvement in the public
schools of Washington, D. C, were
ftunished by the Superintendent of
Public Schools in that city, and were
undoubtedly effective in disprov-
ing Michael's vague theory regarding
the improper use of copy books.
Fourthly — Michael never present-
ed a single si)ecimen or scrap of jtaper
showing the imjirovement of any stu-
dent in Erie or anywhere else, and he
knows better than to publish any such
thing.
The facts are, his whole speech was
a miserable failure, and proved a great
disappointment to the audience and
the negative of the question, as it was
generally thought that the " Goliah "
of Obcrlin would annihilate the nega-
tive side, so as to disable him and
every oi\e else for life that attempted
to defend the (ropy book.
Had we known so much about
Michael at tlie time the debate took
place as wc do now, we should have
promptly declined having anything
to do with such a slanderer and
abuser of the best system of practical
writing published.
It may not be generally known that
Michael is a failure as a teacher, as he
has never turned out a good writer in
his whole career of unusefulness, and J
during the past three yeai-s has not 1
had but one good penman in hiflV
school, and he is admittedly a studentf
of other professional iienmen, which |
illustrates the superior (?) methodflJ
of Michael as an instructor in penmaaKj
ship.
Perhaps there are more congeniall
professions where Michael could ex-^
cell, but in our oiiinion it is gettin
altogether too hot for him in the fiel3
of penmanship, and he should at ondcr
identift' himself with a barbaric racel
where he could jjossibly become i
chief, or at least find such company
as is most suitable to his tastes and
educational qualifications.
In the future we shall decline to
recognize the theories and unreason-
able ideas advocated by Mr. Michael,
as he was expelled from the Business
Educators' Association of America,
and therefore is not a member of any
standing in the profession.
The following letter answers the in-
sinuation made by G. W. Michael a:*
to the specimens used in debate with
him last May:
Washington, D. C, Nov. 20, 1885.
Prof. H. C. Clark, Erie, Fa.:
Dear Sir — The "Specimens of Compo-
sition and Penmanship '" sent to you
from this city, to be used in your public
debate, were prepared entirely by the
pupils in our public schools, in the pres-
ence of exauiiners, and the time allowed
was thirty minutes.
These facts were certified on each
package in my hand, as clerk of the Su-
perintendent and secretary of the Board
of Trustees.
Washington schools have produced
large quantities of such examination
papers, which are indisputable evidence
of the excellence of the Spencerian sys-
tem as presented in the copy books,
taught by the regular public school in-
structors.
LOOK OUT FOR HIM!
It has come to our notice that one
A. Tigniere, of New Orleans, La., is
claiming to have received silver
medals on his penmanship at the New
Orleans Exhibition over other well-
known penmen, and as D. L. Mussel-
man, of Quincy, III., was the only one
in the profession making an exhibit,
it would seem as though this man
Tigniere had a superfluous amount
of cheek, even exceeding that of any
man before exposed for similar prac-
tices.
Webelii-v,. !,.■ i- tin-;,,!,- ni;in uIm.
a few year- wiu li.nl ,i |.l i Im^i-
neSS in In.inni;,. ami mM; I a l;il-c
iber of Mil.M.-nl.ri> t:.i 77,. /V,,.-
\ Art Jnin-nal, luit tln' piil.Iislicr
r received the nnmev. c.nsc-
quentlv we think Tignieiv railrd to
t)ok out for hi
doubtedlv bear wat^
He
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
ADDRtSS BY H. A. STRONG, ESQ.,
To the Students of Clark's College, Erie, Pa.,
Friday Morning, October 23, 1885.
ISpeclully roponi'U for 'TiiR Auiricak I'bkiian"
by l>ror. H. K. Whitman, M. Ph.. lustnictor In Pho-
netics, Clurk'tt College.]
Mr. Prt:itiden(, Ladies and Ocntfrmcn
—I feel thiit a few words of apology are
necessary to preface the few words that
I ehall say this morning. Some six
weeks ago I was waited ujion by your
honorable President and invited to join
the corps of lecturers for the coming
year. 1 promised with the proviso that
it was to be in the last part of the year.
He asked me to take something out
of the regular line of my business, and
1 also promised to do this. Now a prom-
ise is a very easy thing for me to make.
The other day I was waited upon by the
speaker who was to have been here this
morning, who informed me that I had
The topic that I have taJcen this morn-
ing is "The Law of Commercial Paper."
that is, bills, paper money, notes, drafts,
and bills of exchange. All these are
comparatively of recent origin. In
former times there was no such thing ae
having goods for sale, everything was
bought and sold by barter. If I wanted
a pair of boots I would go to my boot-
makLT and tell him that I would give
him 8o much legal advice in return for
the boots. The farmer would go to the
maker of cotton goods and say that he
would give him so much farm produce
for cloth that the farmer needed for
his wife and daughters. Of course all
this was done by giving an ecjuivalent
in every case. The other day a man
came to me and said that he needed
help and that he would exchange farm
produce, such as butter, eggs, chickens,
etc. But if I would go to the shoemaker
and say I needed a pair of shoes,
and placed upon it ihe amount of actual
produce which it would purclmsse. But
the last and most important stop of the
whole is the sale and purchase of com-
mercial paper. I will make an estimate
of the business transact«d in New York
for one day. How much gold and silver
do you suppose passes from hand to
hand in the payment of debts? I can
safely say that not five per cent, of the
whole amount is other than Notes, For-
eign and Inland Bills of Exchange and
other commercial papers. These rep-
resent actual amounts and are, by the
law of commerce, eiiuivalent to that
much cash. Now allow iiie to hold your
attention as a ieacher for a few mo-
ments and I will explain this more fully.
You young men and women who are
to go out in the world and take the hard
knocks that are necessary, many of you
will possibly not be able to afford the
assistance of a lawyer, so if you pay
on my promise iC possible, but I cannot
as long as I am worth one hundred dol-
lars. I say "Thirty days after date I
promise," and I am obliged to pay. The
form of the note may be varied, but all
must say "I promise" This form of
a note is "negotiable," that is, it can be
sold, as H. C. Clark can put his name
on the back and I will have to pay the
money to the one who holds the note at
the end of the time, but if the words
"or order" were omitted, the note
would be " non-negotiable," and of no
use to any one except H. C. Clark. The
note may say "to H. C. Clark or bearer,"
and it would then be nogotiable. Here
is another kind of "Promissory Note"
(Here the speaker holds up a dollar bill)
If you have read what it says on the
note you will have noticed that it says
"The United States Treasury will pay
to bearer upon presentation." The
statutes provides that a Promissory
j^ot to speak— remember, got to speak—
this morning, as he was called away
from the city on business and could not
iippear before you this morning. I re-
member of reading of Prof. Holmes
when in the same predicament. Rufus
' 'boat, the silver-tongued orator, was in-
vited to lecture before Dartsmouth Col-
lege, but a few days before the time he
was called away on business, and going
I" Holmes, said that Holmes would have
I') take his place that time; he did not
iisk him to do it. but said he would have
to do so. Holmes is a regular good fel-
low and a great punster ; so while he
was on the train on his way to Darts-
"louth College a man asked him whether
I'e was the lecturer for that morning,
but Holmes said that he was only the
>liadow of the lecturer and would not
try to fill his place, but would just rattle
Jiround a while and do his best. Well,
"lis is just my fix this morning. I shall
I I'ttle around and do the best I aiu able to
' lo. and so you must try and bear me out.
and in return would give him legal ad-
vice, he would say that he could not af-
ford that, as his stock cost him money,
and he did not need the legal advice.
He could not readily sell my advice, but
he could my note or the currency I
should give him. This is termed an ex-
change, and things of equal value are
given. Gradually the demand for these
things increased, then gold and silver
was discovered. These had a fixed and
certain value, so a man could exchange
them for those things which he most
needed. There was no money in Abra-
ham's time. When his wife died and he
wanted to bury her iii a cave, according
to the custom of the times, he went to
the owner of the field where there were
some caves, and made a bargain with
him for a cave. Abraham then weighed
out 300 shekels of silver to pay the man.
You tee in this that money was weighed
out and was worth so much an ounce.
The next step in this direction was the
use of the stamp which gave the coin,
careful attention I will try and give you
some good advice. You will probably
very often desire such advice, and in
many eases it will be necessarj'. Poor
Sturgeon found it advisable to take the
advice of his lawyer and fly when there
was no other way of escape.
In the first place I would impress upon
your minds the idea of a promise. You
thereby bind yourselves to do some-
thing at a certain tnue ; it may be the
payment of a bill, the lending of money,
or even taking a lady to the opera.
These are all promises and must be ful-
filled. Now look at this (pointing to the
following Promissory Note which was
written upon the blackboard):
* 100. 00.
Erik. Pa.. Oct. 23, 1885.
Thirty days after date I promise to
pay H. C. Clark or order, One Hundred
H. A. Strong.
This is a promise that I will do this ;
r I was dishonorable I would go back
Note like this on the board will be out^
lawed in six years, and after that it is
impossible to get anything for it. but a
"Promissory Note" of this class (hold-
ing up the dollar bill) is never outlawed
and the gold or silver can be secured at
any time as long as the bill remains. It
has often happened that bills have been
burned up, but the ashes were sent to
the U. S. Treasury and there examined,
and if found to be all right the money
was sent to the person who held the
" Promissory Note." The man who
made the note is called the "maker,"
and the one to whom it is to be paid is
called the "payee," but in law we say
the "maker" is the "promiser," and
the "payee" is the "promisee." The
signature attaelied to any note is the
sign whether it is good or bad. No two
men have exactly the same style of writ-
ing, so there is no great danger in con-
founding the signatures.
is important to have a legible hand:
1 so unfortunate that I am unable to
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
write my own uame. I will tfll you how
it is. I was taught to write in the old
country districts. My teacher told nie
to follow the copy; this I did, and day
by day I did nothing but try to write as
I saw. The result is that I have not the
proper movement, but a combination ot
the arm and flijger movement, which is
laughable to see. When I got into busi-
ne^n I found that my hand would easily
tire out and that my writing was too slow.
You who have done business with
hanks know that when you take money
to the bank to be deposited, the cashier
hands you a large book, in which he
keeps the signature of all those who do
Ijusiuess with the bank. When a check
is brought to him to be paid, he looks at
the siffnature given in the book and that
on the check, and if both are exactly
alike he knows that the signature on the
check is genuine, and that he can safely
pay the money. I went into the bank
the other day and asked for the signa-
ture of Judge Gaibraith. One thing pe-
culiar about I he Judge is that he always
writes his name the same. Here is a
very good imitation of his hand (point-
ing to the signature on the board.)
Holliday, the Clerk of the Courts, also
has ail exce'lent and uniform signature.
One movement for every letter, a dash
of the pen, and he is done.
You ,ask one hundred men which they
think to be the most important, a rapid
or a beautiful handWTJting, and ninety-
nine will say a rapid hand. Life is too
short to spend five minnt«8 in signing
your name. In this College you are j
taught the proper way of doing things., |
Learn to write neatly and rapidly. Prac- i
tice your signature until you have it- so |
simple and plain that it ean at once be I
written. You will then save time in
business and never be afraid of having
any one counterfeit your handwriting. |
Be uniform as well as rapid. Once you
adopt a form of signature, do not
change but use it continually. You will
then have it ready at all times. The in-
dividuality of a person is as pronounced
in the signature as it is in the looks,
dress. 01- walk.
Possess this characteristic and you are
safe. You Will then be successful busi-
nes.'i men and women. [Applause.}
So doubtless other curious penmen
and even teachers of the art flourished
in our nation before this Peter Bales,
but as their names, characters and la-
bors, for ought I can find, are entirely
lost, 1 shall begin this my collection of
the lives and printed works of our Eng-
lish writing masters with him. Foreign-
ers I do not treat of; and all the rest
after him I intend to speak of in the
alphabetical order of their names;
which method, I conceive, will be the
most clear and useful to my readers.aiid
I I hope they will be content with such
short memorials, as I could procure, con-
cerning many of them; for my endeav-
ors in some places are only like the
picking up of a few fragments on the
seashore after a shipwreck, discovering
there was such a vessel to which they
belonged. Upon the whole, I shall be
glad if the occasional observations that
I shall make in the course of this work
may conduce to the encouragement of
keeping to a sound, clean, practicable
and consequently useful method of writ-
ing; for as it is remarked by an ingen-
ous author: "The same motives that
"make us present ourselves to bur species
"with decency and an intelligible lan-
"guttge.engage.usto study to arrive at a
"legible, as well as a neat and well or-
"dered way pf writing; none but those
"who respect nobody, and think them-
" selves exempted from all regards due
"to society, can well neglect to have a
"tolerable handwriting.'— -Vpco^. rfe la
Nat . Vol. VII.
second Orthography, or true writing;
and the third Calligraphy, or fair writ-
ing. This was imprinted at London, in
quarto, by T. Orwin. His rules in the
iast part, or key of Calligraphy, are
written in verse as well as prose. "And
indeed," says Mr. Oldys, "we may ob-
serve several of liis fraternity since ad-
dicted to poetry, which may be natur-
ally accounted for from their being so
conversant with the poets; by transcrib-
ing their moral sentences, short max-
ims and districks, to set their scholars
as copies ; which is certainly laudable,
to season tiieir youthful minds with ele-
gant admonitions at the same time that
they are forming their hands to busi-
ness. Besides, the precepts of any art
are well known to be most successfully
communicated in verse." In fine Mr.
Bales con(;ludes his book with the fol-
lowing epigram :
" ywilr, true and fair, gooil reader, I present
Art, pen am! hand have play'ii iheir parts in me.
Mind, wit and eye, do yield their free consenr;
Skill, rule and grace, give all ihcirgains to lliet;
Swift art, true pen, fair hand logeiher meet,
Mind, wit and eyt, skill, lu'es and grace to
greet "
The second edition of this book was
published in twelves, 161)7, with eighteen
copies of reconuiiendatory verses before
it. by several learned hands.
What I have seen of our authors,
from the letter press, urf eighteen lines
in blank verse (a rarity at that time) in
ecimmendation of George Ripley's "Com-
pound of Alchy-juy;'" published by Ralph
EARLY ENGLISH PENMEN
. Hand and Golden Pen for his sign, yet
[ was obliged to remove from place to
I place for fear ot disturbance from his
creditors, and that which favors this
suspicion is a proverbial speech matle
use of afterward, when speaking of peo-
ple in debt; they were said to want the
friendship of Peter Bales, /. e.., stood in
need of some friends, who would be
their bails. But this, however, is no
more than conjecture, which might
have perhaps no other foundation than
the invidious expressions in the aforesaid
epigram. However, be that as it may,
the above mentioned trial of skill whs
made on Michaelmas Day, in the year
aforesaid, before five judges chosen by
the consent of both parties. The particu-
lars of this contest is now m the British
Museum, supposed to be written by
Peter Bales hiiuself. It is dated Jaiui-
uary, the 1st, ISOO.
I am informed by a short note, hi Mr.
Joseph Ames'. F. K. S., handwriting,
that Peter Bales was once servant to Sir
John Puckering, Lord-keeper, and that
the book containing his account of the
trial of skill for the Golden Pen with
Daniel Johnson, was once among Lord
Worcester's MSS., No. 216.
One of the first things that grave our
Bales a reputation in the world for
writing was it seems, a micrographical
performance, which he wrote in l.^TS,
(being then about twenty eight years-
old) as Hollingshead takes notice in his
chronicle of that year, viz.: The Lord'*
Prayer, the Creed, the Decalouge, with
two short Latin prayers, his own name,
and motto, with the day of the month,
year of our Lord, and that of the
Queen's reign, (to whom he presented it
at Hampton Court) all within the com-
pass of a silver penny, inchased in a ring
and border of gold, and covered with .
crystal, so nicely wrote as to be plainly ^
legible, to the admiration of Her Majes-
ty. (Queen Elizabethl her Privy Council
and several ambassadors who saw it.
[Specl:i1ly prepared fur '
by W. II. Lotlirop, o( South Iloston, Muss.]
It is the purpose of these articles to
give some account of the lives of Eng-
lish penmen as found in the work of W.
Massey, published at London in 1763.
The introduction to the second part is
given ui full.
"THE PnOEM."
"After the art of prmting began to be
generally in vogue there succeed as gen-
eral a neglect amongst penmen for the
improvement of the art of writing.
This, as I have taken notice before, was
occasioned for want of due encourage-
"The first, who with a happy genius
(accompanied with remarkable applica-
tion and industry,) restored the practice
of fine writing, and taught it by certain
rules in England, was one Peter Bales;
at least he is the first that I find upon
record for being a very excellent teacher,
and performed therein. I beheve, how-
ever, we may safely apply to him what
Horace does to Agamemnon:"
" Vixere fortes ante Agamemnon
Mulli; sed omnes illacrymabiles
Urgentur, ignotique longa
Node, carent quia Vale sacro. "
— Carm. Lib. IV, Od. y
" Before hiii time there many lived,
Whose glory in these lists wai great;
hut all unmourn'd.und now unknown.
Are in a dark oblivion lost.
Because no sacred bard has wrote
What they perform'd."
PETER BALES.
Peter Bales was born A
1547, but the place of his nativity and
who his parents were I have not found.
A. Wood, in his "Athenae Oxonienses,"
saysi "He spent several years in
sciences aiuongst the Oxonians, particu-
larly, as it aeenis, in Gloucester Hall, but
that study which he used for diversion
only proved at length an employment of
profit." This account is not only very
short but defective, for it does not ap-
pear by this that he was ever a regular
student in that University, but rather
that his business was 1o teach others
writing and arithmetic ; probably to the
college scholars.
It i*. not certain when and upon what
motives he left Oxford, hut in the year
1586 I find he was in some employ under
Sir Francis Walsinghatu, the Secretary
of State, but what his business was or
how long he continued therein, I cannot
tell ; in all likelihood it was something
in the writing way
In 1590 he kept a school at the upper
end of the Old Bailey in London,
and taught the children of many per-
sons of distinction at their own houses.
There were several petitions, letters,
etc., written in fine small secretary and
It-alian hands by this Peter Bales in the
Harleian Library of Manuscript*!, which
I suppose are now transferred into the
British Museum. In this year, also 1590,
he set forth the first fruits of his pen, as
he calls them, and coiimiunicated to the
public his Writing Schoolmaster in
three parts. The first teaching the art
of Brachygraphy, or swift writing; the
Kabbards, 1591, which are prefixed to
the said book. And at the end of the
book the said liahbards tells us "That
in correcting Ripley's old ill-written copy
(Ripley was chanon of Bridlington, 14701
he had the assistance of Peter Bales in
the Old Bailey, who was," he says, "a
most notabli' and experienced decipherer
of old and imperfect writing."
In 1595 he had a trial of skill in writ-
ing in Black Friars, with one Daniel
Johnson, for a golden pen of twenty
pounds value, and won it, thoiigh his
antagonist was a younger mati by eigh-
teen years, he himself being then forty-
eight years of age. Yet upon this victory
his contemporary and rival in the art of
writing, .lohn Davis, in a fatyrical and
ill-natured epigram, could not forbear
making the following envious remarks:
This is the 2l5th epigram, in his book
entitled "The Scourge of Folly."
UPON PETEIl BALES.
The hand, and golden pen ctophonian,
Sets on his sign to shew (O protid poor foul ! )
Both where he wonnes, and how the same he
From writers fair, tho' he wrote ever foule;
But by that hand, that pen, so borne hath been
From place to place, that for this last half year
It bCKtce a fen' night at a place is seen;
That hand soplies th.ii pen, tho' ne'er the near,
For when men seek it, elsewhere it is sent,
Or there shut up (as for the plague) for rent;
Without which slay, it never still could stand
Because the pen is for a running hand.
By this epigram it appears as if our
Bales was then in necessitous circum-
stances, and though he had set up the
intimations, in Mr.
'. Bales in the Bio-
ca, that he wtt»
trouble, (about the
tly, by copy-
We have some
Okly's article of Y
\ graphia' Brittanni
brought into some
year 1599) though i
ing some of the Earl of Essex^s letters,
by the deceitful contrivance of one John
Daniel, a mercenary Tlependent upon
the said Earl; but I do not find thaV
Bales' reputation suffered by this in tho
estimation of the impartial. •
Besides his Writing Schoolmaster, that- -
mentioned above, I have met with noth-
ing else published by him, except one
piece in secretary hand without a date.in
a book entitled, "Theatrum ArtisScrib-
endi Judico HondioCaclatore." Itwaa-
printed at Amsterdam from the rolling-
press, 1614, when, I suppose. Bales was
dead.though that piece might be written
by him long before; for in the said book,
which contains forty-two plates, some
are dated 1594. so I suppose that which
I saw dated 1614 was not the first im-
pression. Lastly, when, where and in
what oircumstances this great master of
the pen made his final exit I have got no
certa-in iutelligenee
Ait-ongst the Harleian MSS., (now
in the British Museum) No. 2368. there
is a thin vellum book, in small (piarto,
called Arebeion. At the end of that
treatise is a neat flourish done by com-
mand of hand, wherein are the letteru,
P. B., which shows (says a tiote in that
book) that this copy was written by tha a
hand uf Peter Bales, the then famou* j
writing master of London.
" The (Trant Memc.rial " is the title of ^
a new and elegantly executed specimen
of pen work by D. T. Auies and Mr.
Rollinson, of New York, and for artistic
lieauty. we have never seen its equal.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
BY PBOF. H. RrsSELL,
Ho t all who labor, all wh.
lofiy power,
Po wiih your might, do with
every golden hour.
One of the main reasons that
paratively few acquire good penman-
ship is from an utter lack or realizing
sense of the amount of labor
to secure the result. We see young as-
pirants who expect by a few weelts'
practice to become the greatest livinu'
penman, fail. The humbug writing
master who has made the people be-
lieve, and especially those who know
nothing of penmanship, that he
vast amount of mischief. (But if the
butterfly derides the bee in summer he
was never known to do it in the lower-
ing days of autumn.) By and by the
poor, foolish, deluded young man who
has listened to the soft, seductive words
of the humhui; ti-.tihrr, is awakened to
the truth and Iih iniiN jiv ni:iny another
before him has liaiti.. I in -i,ru experi-
ence, that there |> Jim .■~Ur,r>S without
great labor. If e\fiy tiaclier would, by
est appeals and example, impress
I should I
r young i
nestly to make the
this fact upon his pupili
far less failur
He should labor
understand that
luck or glittering lucks, but
onlv to those who are ready to work for
it. Happily for young penman there are
scores of aids and helps to cheer him on
Among these are our pen
man papers, who are doing a grand
work. The experience of veteran teach
ers who have achieved the grandest
success is given for him to imitate and
upon every hand the words of
agement and sympathy that greet hii
is abundant evidence that he
ceed if he has the will to work i
dilTereut were things twenty-five
ago. when I " '
iship
ignorance and p
ers of peni;
possessed of indi.M
try teaching, and
lacked thi
and Work
most eminent divines that this counti
ever produced, is what gave
and the same admiral doctrine i ight
probably be truthfully reiterated b\
those who have
every rank and sphere in life, and upoi
every reader of your paper I would like
to impress this fact —
Thu in life's earnest battl.
Who d;
mmupmM
This Institution is attracting students from all parts of the United Htates and
Canada, and is now considered the representative Bu-siness College of America.
It claims points of superiority in its genera! course of study, in presenting the
best course of actual business practice and theoretical book-keeping ever devised.
It has a national reputation, and its graduates are filling nianv important posi-
tions of trust, to the delight and satisfaction of their emplovers. The following
'■-■•■*"-' -"*:— ->= -> ' the Erie Sunday Gascffe of Dec. a, iBS5, shovfS
_Clark'8 College 1b an laatltatioD ol which Erie people should i)e proud. CommeQclDg t
The Celebnttd Uiscih; UoTmiit Feinu,
For 30 Cents
UNIQUE FLOVBISB,
aET or CAPITALS,
Oaa Dozen Curds niltt Name,
ARTISTIC LETTER,
TWO OOZEN PENa,
Or nil oflhi nlm !■„ «»]VIi: IJOI_LA.K.
PENMAN'S PERFECTPENS,
lallud for AO Cents.
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
Book-sellepg, Stationeps
GOOD PENMANSHIP.
Catalogue giving full particulars uiailed to any address. More than 2U0 i
dents are in daily attendance, the College occupying the entire two floors of the
elegant Casey Block, Nos. 72.5 and 737 State Street. Those intending to enter a
business college are cordially invited to investigate the excellent advantages
of Clark's College.
H. C. CLARK, President.
M. K. ISAACS,
N. I, y. Sc/wol», Vulpara
THE AMERICAN I'ENMAX.
BOOTS and SHOES.
GENSHEIMER8t BROWN,
715 State Street,
AND RUBBER GOODS,
tor Iho K.ll .nd WInl.r .nrfe. lo b. found In lU. cllj.
Qray Bros. Fine Shoes for Ladies,
Coz, Qardner & Sorris' Fine Oants' Shoes.
CENSHEIMER & BROWN,
710 Utntc et. JanSll-tf
I F. W. MORGAN, ^^^^^!!^^J''^
] HEADQUARTERS FOR
iFine Teas, Coffees,
BUSINESS TRAINING.^
Short Hand DcpartD
NEW CASTLE
Mutual Assessment
LIFE ASSOCIATION,
OF NEW CASTLE. PA..
Gnarantees t he Face of its Certifi-
cates, Defines tlie Cost, Pro-
vides tor Contingencies.
BATES ABE BASED U?ON TEE AMEEICAH
EICPEBIENCE TABLES OF M0RTALIT7.
PILLARS OF STRENGTH.
EooeBty, I Quaranteed Deposits
Solidity, and
7ecmases:7, I Certlfioates of Credit.
JOHN D. ABDILL,
SPICES, CANNED GOODS, &c,
The best selected stock ot
HITE GHOCEHIES
No. 3 Noble Block,
[WM COlLSI)E"'StputBnt of FeiBUik^,;
• Tenth..,' Coune 112 w«,H) for $26 .OO
aradu.l. Count (12 »o.-k.) lor 25. OO
Prortuionnl Count (lime uDllD.lttd) 50.00
(>u3iUU Investing tpZiDU
To Sample our New Cards and Specialties
id.50ctDtsft
S™IUo(»3
ni, tio.. In pl>t> or Jl.OO
■J itiUbtrcTunrftd. Wtonly
THE COMPLETE ACCOUNTANT,
Leadiug Treatise on Book-Keeping
Arranged for TTse In BnsineEs Colleges, High
Schools, and Academies.
HUH in Om tanntrif, a»d I tnnmd^ Mm lX» flntM pmman o/ hit
igrin the umrtd. HU prnmamiltip u artuHeaJlj/ ftr/toL"—
'I. C Cl,ARK. Eilihtr.
4a-Wlih ever}' « piic)>ng<>* onlvrcd •( ono Umo an ozln
»cka«.orQllt Itevfl Wg* Crti will iK. «o>it frc. wlih
iny riHiiie wrIUen on. Willi it IIiUb nffort you can cmIIj
Number of Ttrd, in i«ck«g* ; 18 36
itjU A.— PlatnWhtte, hi-ki quaitij to.lfl #(1.00
'■ li.-Weddlng Bristol, rory bMt.,.. M M
" c.-GUt Edge, — i.ri«l S8 IM
" ]>.— Bevel cut Edge. ibeDDNi „ M 1.00
" K. -Bevels of CreamandWhitfl JSm 1.10
" U.— Silk and Satin BevelB «0 1.18
" II —Eight-ply BevelB. MBortwl, 62 1.21
■• l.-Ellle, U',. i«io9tMyi™ H 1.36
Addreafl Lines-Extra .■-'" .40
CENTRAL Plilll IlULKilH.
t BO oiDnoted th»t the point nf
tUe cBUire or axis of tb« holder, tli« bsius a
nicii IS tue correct and natural posltioD (br
: in tmportanco is the fact tha". owing to the
i Edition cowtftin* 3-5fi |ifta;ei
The High School Edition c
I reqiiirtd in High ScboolH, Acade,
O. M. POWERS,
79 Madison St.. Chicaffo
The Western Penman.
ETer7 Number Contains a Lesson In Writing, a Lesson in Lettering, a Lesson in Flourishing.
Tho crimping of tho flngara by contlnaoua writlne, and wMoh IB
CAUSED B7 COHTmUALL? QEACPWO AFTER THE POaiT oftkt
PEN TO BEIHO IT DOWIT TO THE PAPEB, li xhaUy OTOteoffli.
ITgi. 2 and 3, Usdloa; 1 tnd 6, sxtri w
Ho. U at hand. I regard It a> (be beat specimen of a penman'a paper ever iMued.— J. C. Kline, Wooditock, III.
Will vou pleaae lot me have tweni; or thirty of the Seplemher No. or ihe WMterti Penman lui sampler. Il
he best you've turned ont.— W. D. Kinslby, Penman Nonnal Ootltge, Shtnandoah, loimi.
The Subscription Price is Only 60 Cents a Year,
*ilb choice from a long list or Taloablepremiume, or a magnificent T-\Vo r>olla.r TSfiolt, and t
pie copy will l.e Rent for ex.iminatioo, npou recei
jr»AJ_.Mk;R. «fc <JO.. Box 466, Chicago. janSe-tl
rOiie X>olla
BOOK-KEEPING SIMPLIFIED ;
A KEY TO DOUBLE-ENTRY.
By P. A. WRIGHT, 769 Broadway, New York.
Sadler's Hand-Book of Arithmetic.
.ess than 400 Pages— More than 6,000 Problema.— Essential b Carefully Retained.— Non-Es-
s Religiously Excluded.
Mod
-SooU fo
the Understanding.- Relieves the Uemory.
dcrn Teaclicrw.
mplute, and entirely fi
LB^SUNS is to primary initimclion. Progreaalre toachi
Price: Complete, $1; Part I (to Percentage), 46 ct
As a Teaohir's desk copy from which I
work, the HAND-BOOK has no equal.
contnt'tis every jliinciple of arllhmetlr. cislom of buslnei
will be likely ton,
'■ ■ Oomple
MEiTIC is unaurpaaVed
elect problems for supplementary olnss
*ir.in8iriicting nrithmetic, send for Sadler's iDdnctive Aritbmetlc. It
,A8 a reference book to young or inexperienced Teaohera, our INDUCTIVE AHITH-
10:
60-
rincipala <
.:;smilUOUNIING'ROnS£AElTElIEnC..
iiorclrcularcontaluiOBt.,ilrii.,Miiil,. IT.tv: Coi,„,i,..- , $2; I' "
Ortoii JSc ti<adlcv*t> Kiii^liit-Hhs < ;■
Holder, inalant rellet Thp
iaway entirely with gxlpr"""
,e_of iiarro«r_iiietrf til
L. MADARASZ, Box 2116, N. Y. City.
PEN FL,OCJRlSHEI> CARDH.
. To students who vish t^rood models
ttg to practice from, these will be
bCuhe thing. " Price. $1.06 p;r paoH-
( quAlxti/ tf
of flourishlag i
found to be ■ •
age of 13.
WKix'ruiw EjEtter.
xmiMUd p'di'fT. price 30 c
SIOi'VAXUREN.
Tf yon wish yoi.r name .rriU^. m a«,orlcd -Ujlf, .md eovMk
na[ion<, send 61 cents, ami the handsomest lanl* I CM
FLOUR ISUII\Ci.
Elegant specimens ofofr-h^nd lionrl.l.lnc. ^'Kb a. blnlt,
easle*. jiwans. etc., on unruled paper, which 3X6 Con-
ceded by all to he the most spirited work OTSr
sent out by any penman Price. 26 cents eaotl.
2 for 46 cents. $2.10 per dozen.
t^EXM or CAPITALS.
style of tbi' att, and winning U
-SV. H. SA.1>JL«k:i
6 and 6 N. Charles St., BALTIHORt. AID.
manufacture, 30 cents.
CARD WRITI]V« PEKN.
The Favorite per bos 40 eta., per grow, $1.19fl
Card Writing, No. 1. " 60 " 1.00
L. MADARASZ,
P, 0. Box 2116, New York City.
^SAMPLE CARDS, showing a wonderful-,
command of the pen, with your name on, 1»
one cent stamps, also a complete circular of
SIG PlfOFII'ftS.
ERIE, PA., FEBRUARY, i^
Vol. -1— No. 2.
The regular writiiij; lesson, which
should have !i])pe:nv(l hi this nuni-
her, is crowdcti .>ul (.. 'jivr room for
Prof. W. P. rnM|,ri'- r\,-, ll.nt articlc,
" For Thk A.MKiMrAN I'i:nm v\," which
will prove fully as interesting as any-
thing we could have published.
A GENTLEMAN in this city recently
undertook to test his si)eed in w-i-iting
with a pen, against the skill of an
operator of the type writer. The
subject to be written was the Lord's
Prayer, and in all probability the
penman would have won, had he
known the words of the prayer a little
better. As it was, he suffered defeat.
The Penman's Art Journal, in a re-
cent number, attacks the compen-
dium publications with great severity.
We shall be pleased to receive the
opinions of those who have used the
compendium, for publication in Thk
American Penman, and a friendly dis-
cussion of the merits c)f any one ol
the several compendiums now pub-
lished, is in order.
There is a larger number of young
men and women attending business
colleges than ever before, which is
gratiij'ing to college principals, and at
the same time indicates the drift of
popular education away from classical
schools. There is no doubt that busi-
ness colleges are soon to become the
acknowledged superiors of all other
schools, as far as a practical education
goes.
The Amekican Penman is receiving
a very cordial and liberal patronage
from penmen, business educators, stu-
dents, and those interested in the
chirographic art, which is encourag-
ing indeed. We sincerely hope that
our Mends mil help to extend its cir-
culation until there shall be no pro-
fessional writing teacher, or admirer
of good penmanship, who does not
receive it regularly.
E.\TENsiVE preparations are being
made to insure the success of the next
meeting of the Business Educators'
Association of America, which is to
convene in New York City July next.
Every reputable teacher of writing or
of other commercial branches, is eli-
gible to membership, and it is hoped
that every live teacher will be ready
and willing to do whatever he can in
bringing about a large attendance.
THE COLLEGES AND PUBLIC
LIFE.
Only eight of New York's thirty-six
UepresentJitives in Coneress enjoy <'.ol-
leL'i.tmiMiii!;. Mr.li,.lT„..i,ti«:i Harvard
rii:ill. Mr Ilrivilt 1- ;, -inlii ,1,. of Co-
Iuiii1h;i, Mi M. iMiii: I I|..l,:il1,, Mr.
\-U-lrni\Vr,t | '. ,1, il , ,\i I \ , |:i I„S .)f thi
College of the City ot New York, Mi
Spriggs of Union,' Mr. Mallard of Wil-
liams, Mr. Payne of Rochester Uiii-
vei-sitv.
Messrs, K.lix iiihlTiiiMitliv .r. Camp-
bell, Mr I'niit/rr Mi ,1. Mr. Ma-
hone, Jlr Mulli I, .Mr, l;li>-, ;,n.i M
Dowdney, who eomirletc tlie list of
New York City and Brooklyn mem-
bers, enjoyed only common school
privileges, as did Messrs. Hisoock, Da-
venport, and other members from the
interior.
The proportion of college men in
the New York dolr-ratii
in any other Statr ill li-
men seem to tiiii in -m
IS large as
( 'ollege
1 -■■ '■■■■iL'i F, Kilniini.l.s, and
■'■'' ' -' Ulliilirr llilrllr.'tuallv
^1'- il'-Hliiiliiii: iueli,ard not go to
college.
A few collegians, however, have
made their way to the front. William
Maxwell Evarts tiKik a slin |iskin at
Yale, James Dnii,ilii Ci mn bears
the imprint of ,i.'i II 11 1 nlil I'n-livterian
Princeton, and John .Vlixamlrr Logan
was polished off at Louisville Univer-
sity.— iVac York Sun.
The above list of prominent men,
mostly from New York, rank among
the wisest of our statesmen, and as it
will be seen that very few of them are
graduates of Iit«rary colleges, it would
seem that such institutions can
justly lay claim to any great superior-
ity in the way of fitting men for pub-
lic life, even over our common schools.
BOOK AND EXCHANGE ITEMS.
The Pcfmian's Art Journal for De-
cember is a very interesting number,
the special and most attractive feature
being Prof E. K. Isaac's writing les-
son It is a beautiful journal, well
worth the subscription asked D, T.
Ames, Publisher, 205 Broadway, N.Y.
The Penman's Gazette comes to hand
enlarged and improved, which makes
very desirable paper It lias un-
dertaken to give regular lessons in
book-keeping and stenography in ad-
dition to penmanship, and we hope it
' jirove a success. The (I. A. Gas-
kell Publishing Co., N. Y.
Tlu: Wetlmi Penman is a bright and
parkling journal, edited by A. N.
Palmer. It contains much valuable
information regarding penmanshii),
and its illustrations are very well se-
lected, giving to the paper a beautiful
appearance. A. N. Palmer & Co., Pub-
lishers, Chicago, 111.
" Catalogue of the Seven-Account
S.ystem of Book-keeping," contiiins
120 pages of nicely printed matter
upon the subject which its title indi-
cates. Its author claims to have pro-
duced good results in practical work
with the method he has adopted and
published, which is a strong argument
in its tavor. There is certainly a field
for usefulness and improvement in
the book-keeping text books, and the
.author of the seven-account system
seems to have apprehended the appar-
ent need of a jiractical treatise, rather
than a merp theoretical outline of ac-
counts. C. 0. E. Matthews, 22 N.
Clark Street, Chicago.
We acknowledge the receipt of the
following college publications, which
are of a high order of excellence:
Eastman's 0>llege Journal, Pough-
keepsie, N. Y.
The Srhtml Visitor, N. W. Business
College, Madison, Wis.
Hectld's College Journal, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
The Colkge Record, Jacksonville, 111.
Th^ Practical Educator, Trenton,N. J.
Business University Journal, Indian-
apolis, Ind.
Haling' Ledger and Classtical Adver-
tiser, Fall River, Mass.
Etmira Busimss Colkge Journal, El-
mira, N. Y.
Hill's Colkge Journal, Logansport,
Ind.
Common Sense in Education, New
York.
Tlie Colkge Quarterly, Jersey CHty,
N.J.
Business College Journal, Springfield,
lU.
Tlie School News, Indianapolis, Ind.
Wk desire to make the future num-
bers of The American Penman un-
usually interesting, and to this end
respectfully solicit the co-operation of
the profession. There is plenty of
material to select from, and if our
friends will endeavor to let their light
shine through these columns, it will
give us much satisfaction, as well as
benefit those who are fortunate enough
to be subscribers.
CO It RESPONDENCE.
Noteworthy letters have been re-
ceived fi'om :
J. P. Medsger, Jacob's Creek, Pa.,
encloses a club of subscribers.
G. G. Zeth, Mountain City Business
College, Altoona, Pa.
G. A. Hough, Business College, Fort
Scott, Kansas.
E. E. Chikls, Hampden Business
College, S|)ringfield, Mass.
W. H. Sadler, Business College, Bal-
timore, Md.
Iran Dunn, EIroy, Wis.
C. B. McClurc, Munson\dlle, N. H.
W. F. Roth, M. D., Manheim, Pa.
W. P. Cooper, Kingsville, 0.
F. B. Costelo, Uniontown, Pa.
L. Madarasz, New Y'ork V\iy.
N. S. Bcardsley, St. Paul, Minn.
C. N. Crandle, Business College, In-
dianapolis, Ind.
S. S. Packard, New York City.
E. K. Isaacs, Valparaiso, Ind.
C. M. Robinson, Union Business
College, Lafayette, Ind.
Bro. Francis, Commercial College,
St. Joseph, Mo.
R. A. Lambert, Winona, Minn.
H. Russell. Business College, Joliet,
lU.
H. J. Michael. Engrosser, .\llentown,
Pa.
P. T. Benton, Teacher of Penman-
ship and Drawing in Public Schools,
Creston, Iowa.
W. F. Morse, Portland, Me.
F. I. Temple, W. Tisbury, Mass.
W. H. Franzell, Roe, Ark.
L. W. Hammond, Batavia, N. Y.
E. E. Salisbury, Phcenix, R. I.
W. P. Richardson, Business College,
Fayette, 0.
S. E. Bartow, Cassville, 0.
A. H. McGregor, Augusta, Me.
Geo. O. Davis, Mount Palatine, 111.
G. C. Sharer, Flint, Mich.
L. T. Harinan, WeUsville, Pa.
There is a goodly number of writ-
ting teachera who do not meet with
the success their writing merits,which
is due, in many instances, to negli-
gence or carelessness in teaching. It
is always better to be in earnest and
work hard in the interest of the stu-
dents one has to instruct.
A oreat deal of attention is being
given to the subject of proper move-
ment exercises of writing, which will
undoubtedly produce good results.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The ArTiericafi Penrnan,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By H C. Clark, Editor and Proprietor.
ERIE, PA., FEBRUABY, 18S6.
INTERESTtNC POINTS ON PENMANSHIP.
H PBNMAN.]
KiNOsviLLK. Ohio.
The various pen journals have already
voluminously discussed every topic con-
nected with the art. Article after article
has appeared, able and perhaps conclu-
sive, but still the public seem slow to
comprehend the philosophy and logic of
pen teaching or pen practice.
The pupil may read carelessly, indeed
he may he slow to comprehend, or he
may have no faith in his author, or fail
to see the force of his reasoning. These
may be assent, but no conviction or giv-
ing assent, he may feel no necessity of
testing these ideas thoroughly in prac-
tice. We therefore tliink we can see the
propriety of a clearly
stated review of many-
very important things
aboutthis business,urg-
ing attention every-
where to these matters.
all public schools as well
as everywhere else.
First allow us to urge
some things in regard
to pens, ink and paper.
We know that not only
public schools, but even
the old scribes them-
selves, very often blun-
der and produce most
imperfect work through
the imperfections alone
of these agencies. We
care not what inks are
used; one thing is evL
dent, they should be
kept entirely clear of
dustand dirt.and should
be exposed to air only
when used. Dirt will
utterly disqualify any
ink (or use, but, a 1-
though it is, or should
be, universally under-
stood, offices, counting
rooms and school rooms
exhibit inkstands half
filled with dust and dis-
quahfted for use. Clean
out these dirty inkstands, fill them with
new ink fresh and clean, and keep them
corked when not in use, that they may
furnish a good article when you need it.
But ink must not only be kept clean,
but above all, it must be that quality
that caust
open ink. If clear and fine grained, ink
will generally flow smoothly, if it does
not, get better if you can. Mineral inks
very often give a hair line that in new
or raw paper will enlarge and show
roughness. You want a smooth and
steadfast hair line that never roughens,
alters, or fades.
Every quality,escept the one of color,
described above as essential to good
inks, should also be found in the or-
namental inks, or they should be dis-
carded entirely.
Inks used in a class should be all alike,
no vials should be employed as ink-
stands on the desks. All inkstands
should be broad based and large-
mouthed; a small-bottomed inkstand is
a nuisance and should not be permitted.
When a class goes into session, noth-
ing further should be done until there is
perfect cjuiet. Inkstands should not be
uncorked until required for use. as ink
may be thrown about them; they should
never be fast in the desks, but they
should still remain in their places and
never be handed about. Each one, or
first learn these peculiarities of each new
pen that he uses, hence the longer he
can use one pen. to say nothing about
expense, the better. The late treo. C.
Gaskell said no penman in America
would use the gold pen, as it is wholly
unfit. Two of these we used twenty-five
years, writing and flourishing with both,
in academies, colleges, and everywhere
else. Please then, to benefit yourself
with a good gold pen; two would be
better. Hunt them over cards until you
find these, and wear these out yourself
and my theories you will accept as cor-
Everybody is familiar with steel pens;
we all know their faults and their vir-
tues. One dollar should supply us with
these three months. We can break in
the one hundred and forty-four each in
turn, and then buy more.
However, suppose as we determine to
use them, that we observe the laws of
their use and structure, in order that
we may get from this use the greatest
possible benefit.
First, learn the power of the spring of
T/tclabove specimen of flouHshing was furniahed for The American Penman by Prof. U. MeKee, thepopular pen-
man and teacher of Oberlin, Ohio. It ie an original design, executed by the Professor, photo-
engraved for re-production.
nkstand.
two at most, should dip
But why these hints? Why encum-
ber the valuable journal with them ?
When any person who has visited any
considerable number of college halls or
public school rocmf, fails to see the ne-
it to flow easily, freely and j cessity or the utility of such observa-
e shall try more clearly to show
the necessity of their being brought
forward.
We hardly ever visited an Academic
Hall or any other school room, counting
room, or office, where the careless hand-
ling of ink had not done mischief, or
poor and dirty inks had not left blots,
blurs and disfigured work behind.
readily froui the pen.
The school pens of our day have fine
points, hence if the ink is either gummy
or sticky, it may refuse to flow at all.
You try pen after pen, and throw them
away, while the fault generally is not in
the pen, which with very free flowing ink
would nearly all write. Test then the
(lowing quality of your inks or all inks
at hand, select the best, and never use
ink having the above fault if you can Westillmaintain.as we ever have, that
help it. Your ink next should have ^1,^ good goj^ pen is the best bu
color when put on. Every line, fine or pen in the world. It ismore elojitic,
coarse, should be palpable in any fight; I flexible, and a thousand times more
black ink is then the ink you want You I durable than any other pen, and it is
luuy l)e bothered to get good ink. San- 1 perfect enough for any practical busi-
foid'y Black Ink, of Chicago, we know uegg purpose. The quill pen must be
to be as good and cheap as any we ever continually reproduced, and the steel
used. If this brand is not at hand get j pen at best lasts but fifty hours. Each
the best you can in your market. gold pen, or quill pen, or any other pen,
Many inks will thicken up if exposed i has its peculiarities; each is essentially,
to the air. You will generally find the in spring and uoint. unlike any other
1 roper degree of thinness when you nr.^t pen. Any scribe. I care not who, must
each, and don't overtax this power; sec-
cond, use more or less shade in all writ-
ing. Be careful by pressing both points
aUke to reach smoothness and freedom
of mark; and lastly, never put away a
pen dirty or loaded with ink. Dip your
pen in the ink one-fourth of an inch
carefully and not hastily. Never hit the
point against stone, wood or glass.
Secure a penholder, the socket of
which will not strain or alter the curve
of the barrel of the pen; for any cramp of
the barrel destroys both elasticity and
spring. In regard to what pens to buy
or use, we would say. there are a dozen
popular brands, in general use, of about
equal merit; take your choice. Use a
large holder wholly of wood. Such
leaves the hand free and clear of cramp.
The most desirable thing in a penholder
is a socket exactly fitting to the pen.
Thin-barreled pens are. of course, the
best. Such ha^e the most spring and
are most elastic. A sheath to protect
the pen when put up, is a good .hing.
To get a holder about right in all o(
these respects may not be so easy, but
such are someti^ues to be had.
without good paper good writing is uu-
possible. It is not easy to judge at
sight of the excellence of paper for
writing purposes. Young scribes often
find it very difficult to get good paper.
The market is always surfeited with
raw, new, poor paper — unfit for use, hf-
cauae wanting age. Old paper is very
often good for nothing, being dry,
spongy, porous, or rough. Bristol board
is too unyielding, expensive and heavy
for common work. The copy books are
generally put up of a heavy, practical
article of paper.
Unruled Flat Cap is the penman's
favorite paper for all purposes. It should
have age, a smooth surface, and a firm,
heavy body. When permitted to, when
you buy paper in any quantity, try it
with pen and ink. By frequent practice
with different papers you will soon grow
too wise to bo cheated with worthless
trash called paper. The old-fashioned
Cap letter paper, one size smaller than
Foolscap, is a very convenient paper for
use. It is the only perfect size of sheet,
and is better i-han any other for letter
writing. Neverroll your
paper; never break with
thumb and finger the
body; never begin to
write with a pen over-
loaded, or lay your pa-
per on a surface covered
with dust or dirt; never
permit others to handle
your sheets of choice
writing, or your book.
When you buy have
Master Clerk carefully
fold the package full
size in the heavy wrap-
per, and take it at once
in your own care and
keeping.
These hints about
papers, pens, and inks
would surely be of great
value to the uninitiated
if well attended to.
Good materials may
surely be had some-
where, and they are,
with penmen, indispen-
sible forerunnerso f first-
rate writing. All here
said about these mate-
rials is suggested by
long experience, and
every hint is backed by
a good reason. Much,
more in regard to eaoh
particular topic might
be wisely added, but this article will
now crowd on other matter in the jour-
nal too much. I
Note.— When you purchase steel pens, |
their cheapness renders it not worth,
while to try them before purchasing.
But with gold pens your best way is to
carefully, and not carelessly, try your
pen before making it your own. Good
ones are possible and can be had Pa-
tiently hunt until you possess one or
two good ones. My young business
friend, this would be your best invest-
W. P. Cooper.
It UlUtti
jTOod the penman.
■'Callias," said I, "if your nons were
colts or calves, we should be able to find
some master, probably some horse-
trainer or farmer, whom we could hire
to bring out and improve the good
qualities of their nature. But now, see-
ing they are human beings, what master
have you in view for them ? AVho under-
stands those good ([ualities which belong
to the man and citizen ? I ask you, be-
cause, I suppose that, having sons, you
littve considered the matter."
Tlu
the best book
tlu
THE AMERICAN PENMAN
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
Opinions of the Press, and How it is Re-
ceived by Educators and its Sub-
scribers in General.
The Amkrican Pbnman, H.C. Clark,
of Clark's College, editor and proprie-
tor, is the Ifc-teet journaliatic venture. It
is a handsome journal and deserves suc-
cess. — Mric Sunday Gazette.
A new paper. The American Pen-
man, is announced, by Prof. H. C. Clark,
of Erie, Pa. We haven't seen the young-
ster, but are quite sure it is for will be)
a very lively one. The venture ha« our
warmest wishes for its success. — Pcn-
man'n Gazette.
The Dispatch neglected to notice the
appearance, a few days since, of the in-
itial number of The American Pen-
man, a neat and hiteresting journal de-
voted to the cultivation of practical and
ornamental penmanship, published by
Prof. H C. Clark, of this city. Like all
the Professor's ventures, the new jour-
nal promises to be successful, and is
likely to be of permanent value to those
Vol. 1, So. 1, of The Amehicajt Pen-
mas, edited and published by Prof. H.
C. Clark, principal of the flourishing
Biisiiie>s < 'ollege at Erie, Pa., is at hand
and \vi' tinil it as we expected, well filled
with matters of value to those who take
an interest in penmanship.
It is ably edited and typographically
very neat. Mr. S. A. Drake gives the
lessons in writing, and takes the same
ground thai we have taken in our les-
sons, viz.: that position and movement
are the first essentials in learning a rapid
business-like style of writing. Shake,
brother Drake.
We are sure we are right, and we are
going ahead. — Western Penman.
Prof. G. G. Zeth, Secretary Mountain
City Business College. Altoona, Pa.,
says: " I have received a sample copy
of The American Penman. I find it a
neat and attractive journal, fully abreast
with the times. It deserves to be a reg-
ular visitor to all who are interested in
penmanship.'*
Prof. W. P. Cooper, Kingsville, O.,
says: "The first number is excellent,
containing appropriate matter well ar-
ranged, well printed, and handsomely
S. S. Packard, New York, says: "Your
paper is a creditable production."
E. K. Isaacs, Valparaiso, Ind , says:
"Let me congratulate you on the first
born. It is GOOD."
Prof. C. M. Robinson, Lafayette, Ind.,
says: "We are much pleased with the
first number of The American Penman,
and wish you mt
Brother Francis, St. Joseph's Com-
mercial College, St. Joseph, Mo., says:
" I like your paper very much, and will
do all I can to have niy pupils subscribe
Prof. C. R. Bales, of the Evergreen
City Business College, Bloomiugtou, 111.,
says: " I think from the character of
the first issue it is worthy of eminent
success, and if I am a competent tribu-
nal, it is an able exponent of a worthy
subject and a gem in the field of cali-
graphic journalism.'"
Frank E.Vaughan, Manager of the G.
A. Gaskell Publishing Company, New
York, says: "We take great pleasure in
entering Thic American Pen.'^ian on
L.W. Hammond, Bataviife, N. Y..8ay8:
"Enclosed please find my subscription.
The paper is far better than I expected,
and you may count me a life sub-
scriber."
W. H. Franzell. Roe. Ark., says: "The
American Penman came to hand to-
day. I must say it is the brightest of
its kind now published. You may count
me a life subscriber.'"
W. P. Richardson, Fayette Normal
and Business College, Fayette, O., says:
"Please send me a few more samples of
The American Penman. 1 have re-
received the one you sent and have
made no effort at all yet to get up a
club, and have four subscriptions al-
ready, and want to send the largest club
for this month. It is the best pentuan's
paper I have ever read, and it is a per-
fect gem."
J. P. Medsger, Jacob's Creek, Pa.,
says: "The American Pensian re-
ceived. I am pleased with it, especially
its independence and the freedom of its
columns for the discussion of disputed
points and methods, and for its bold
stand against fraud and imposters. I
interested in first-class chirography.—
Erie Daily Dispatch.
The American Pknman from Erie,
Ph., for January, is a splendid number
and a bold push for the superiority in
publishing a penman's sheet. Our "S"
to Bro. H. C. Clark, and best wishes for
the success of The Amerk-an Penman.
—Holmes^ Ledger.
The first number of The American
Pknman. a monthly journal of attrac-
tive appearance, has been issued by
Prof. H. C Clark, of this city. As its
name indicates, it is devoted to the im-
provement of penmanship, both plain
and ornamei.tal, and those interested
will find in it much that is instructive.
Prof. Clark's name is a guarante'e that
it will have a most prosperous future. —
JCric Sunday Gazette.
We have recently received a new
paper entitled The American Penman,
published by H. C. Clark, of Clark's
Business College, Erie, Pa. This, the
first number, is exceedingly good, and
the publication promises to become one
of the leading penman's papers. One
of the articles contained in this number
entitled, "Should Fine Penmanship be
Encouraged r we quite fully agree with.
The School Visitor.
presented to the public. There is no
ability wanting on the part of the edi-
tor,
Prof. E. E. Childs, Hampden B
College, Springfield, Mass., says
contains more sense and l
than some of the penman's papers."
Prof. C. B. McClure, Muuhonville, N.
H., says: "I received the first number
as a specimen copy, and it is certainly a
handsome paper." |
F. B. Costolo, Uniontown, Pa., says:
" It is excellent. Enclosed find my sub-
scription for one year."
L. Madarasz, the eminent card writer
of New York, says: "I like the appear-
ance of your paper."
Prof. C. N. Crandle, Business College,
Indianapohs, Ind., says: "Thanks for
initial number of The American Pen-
man. It is good and I wish it a bright
and happy future."
W. C. Howey, La Crosse. Wis., says:
"The initial number of Thk American
Penman received. I am delighted with
it. Enclosed you will find Postal Note
for a year's subscription. Wish you un-
limited success with Thk American
Penman.'
our exchange list, and desire to compli-
ment you on the general appearance
and tone of the paper. We wish The
American Penman a full measure of
success, and would be g'ad to be of ser-
vice to you in any way we can."
H. J. Michael, Allentown, Pa., says:
"I enclose fifty cents for The Ameri-
can Penman. Judging from the first
number it will be well worth the money
to any out- iiittn-ested in penmanship. I
nni MM-e that any teacher or pupil of
Busiiifss iMhication, or person engaged
in btii-ini^^s, will prize it far beyond its
P. T. Benton, Teacher of Penuumship
and Drawing in the Creston Public
School , lowo, says: "Success to The
American Penman. Of course I want
it, and one of my scholars is afflicted in
the same way. Let our subscriptions
begin with the first number."
F. I. Temple, West Tisbury, Mass.,
says: "A copy of The American Pen-
man came last night. Am very much
pleased with it, and as I am interested
in everythingpertaining to Penmanship.
I cannot show my appreciation for The
American Penman in any better way
than by sending in my subscription, so
enclosed find fifty cents."
, could name some who claim to be pen-
mim who are a disgrace to the cause.
To build up the profession. we need men
of sound moral principles, and 1 feel
certain The American Penman will
encourage every honest effort and de-
nounce evil, thereby elevatuig the pro-
fession and the cause of popular educa-
tion. I am already reading three pen-
men's [lapers, but I feel I cannot afford
to be without The American Pknman.
so I send in my subscription with several
others."
S. E. Barton, Cassville, O., says: "A
copy of The American Penman is at
hand. I am so highly pleased with it
that I cannot resist the temptation of
being one of its subscribers. I am a
boy 17 years of age. all alone to do the
best I can in the world, and as I need
help I thought a paper of this kind was
more valuable than anything I could in-
vest the same amount of money in."
W. F. Morse, Portland, Me., says:
" Have received your gem of a penman's
sheet. For the first issue it was far
ahead of what 1 expected. I wish you
A wise man will desire no more than
he may get juhtly, use soberly, distri-
bute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.
-Swift.
i_
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The ArneriGan PeFirnan,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
single copies of Thb Ambhican Pen
niullcd to uny address on receipt of 8 i
ADVERTISING RATES.
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
fore January I
e fumlabed for
PREMIUMS.
We hiive made arrangemeots with the pnhllsher of
lie Sonltiern Progrpsi!, a new and desirable maga-
:lne pimilshed In Chattanooga, Tenn., to fiirnlBti our
mtiBcrlbere with both Thb Aubrioan Pemman and
tie Soiitht-fn Progi-esH one year for $1.00, whioli la the
utiacrlplloii prlre of the " Progress" alone.
Tt fill pcrnonB intercBtlng themselves In be-
nding c
given ihe one sending the club on all subscriptions
to give r.a.iti premiums to those securing clubs, and
this nile will be Invariably followed.
RemlttHnccB should be made by N. Y. Draft, P. O.
Money Order, Postal Note, or Registered Leiter, to
H. C- CLARK. Publisher. Erie, Pa.
We have received from R. E. Bean '
& Co., Franklin, N. H., samples of the
" Ready Binder for Paper ami Pam-
phlets,'' mimufactured by them, which
are well adapted to the purpose for
which they an- intended.
We are in receipt of a nnmber of
specimens of writing and flourishing,
all executed in a superior manner,
from the pen of Prof. E. K. Isaacs,
^'alIJaraiso, Ind. We think our readers
will derive much benefit from reading
Prof Isaac's valuable article on " Let-
ter Writing," which appears in this
imber of The American Penman.
In an elegantly written letter Prof.
MoKee, of Ol.erlin College Depiirt-
[■iit ■>\' I'r.niinnsliip. says: "I Hke
IK Ami i;h \n I'inman. It is full of
e lM■^t tlniui;lifs nil a most import-
it (lei)aitnient of practical educa-
tion. There are tens of thousands of
ng people in this country who
need to know just what The Amkri-
Penman proposes to furnish, and
witli Prof. Clark at the helm it cannot
fail to fulfill its mission. I consider
the first number worth the subscrip-
tion price.*'
■If you
Just as we go to press we have re-
ceived a club of sixteen subscribers
from Prof. W. P. Richardson, Teacher
of Penmanship in the Fayette (Ohio)
Nonnal, Music and Business College.
Prof. Richardson has set an excellent
example in this respect, and if our
fi'iends would each respond in like
manner The American Penman would
soon have the largest circulation of
any similar publication.
The next number will contain a
lesson on practical penmanship and
pen flourishing, which will be of un-
usual interest, finely illustrated. Now
is the time to subscribe, in order to
get all the back numbere. Send along
your subscriptions and those of your
fi'iends, and you will never regret it.
By Rev. W. H. Pearce, No
(Specially reported I
Prof. H. H. Wliilmai
Clark's College.]
Instructor in Phonetics i
SPECIMENS RECEIVED.
Harold Harmitage, Penman, New
Orleans, favors us wilh several neatly
written card specimens,
A thoroughly artistic and beautiful
specimen of letter writing from Prof.
Lyman Spencer, of Washington, D. C,
adorns a page of our Scrap Book.
Prof C. R. Bales, of the Evergreen
liusiness College, Bloomington, Iowa,
encloses us a beautiful bird flourish,
together with cards.
Prof. W. J. Elliott, Canada Business ,,„ .-„ tt, ■ ^^ rm, ,,
' . My ioung I^rtends:— The addit-ss i
College, Chatham, Ontario, encloses | shall deliver this iiiorning is not so much
his subscription in a well-written let- j in form, but will be a few practical
words, which I trust will be of use to
you. I shall endeavor to impress upon
your minds those impoi-tant maxiius
which govern the success of every man
and woman. It is not so much what a
person has, as what he can do. All start
out in life upon nearly the same equal.
The question of wealth and useful pos-
sessions has but very little to do with
the prominent results of any man's life.
The youth of to-day is prone to com-
plain, and with homeliness he says: "I
have none of the opportunities of suc-
cess ; I have not the advantages of a
commanding social position, but have
been raised and educated in the school
of necessity, battling against life's stern
and necessary realities." What matters
it whether you have wealth; its absence
will demand your working for a victory,
and such are the models after which
Prof H. W. Shaylor, Portland. Me.,
favors us with a number of elegantly
engraved copy-books, together witli a
letter in superior style.
J. M. Harkins, of Calhoun, Ga.,
sends us specimens of his card work,
which, we think, justify his claim of
being the champion card writer of the
Soutlu
I'n.f
W. C. Howey, La Crosse, Wis.,
ss College, sends us a New
card, together with specimens
ishing, etc., which dLsplay much
l;iste and skill.
good Christian young men have been
These are the fulcrum on which no-
bility of thought and strength of pur-
pose are to be found; these are the cra-
dle of achievement. The men who
have the greatest trusts are those who
have worked for those trusts the long-
est. Some of the greatest and best bio-
graphies of the present age have been
written with tears and in the obscure
corners of some unused loft. If you.
likewise. will be great, loved, and sought I y^ luxuries; it
after, allow the circumstances of the
time to influence your motives.
There are three things which are ne-
cessary for a successful life. Sound
health, sound sense, and sound charac-
ter. With these, none of you can say
that you are not well equipped for life;
with these, and the attendant capability
to use them on the right side, you can
and must succeed. Cast the mark of
imperial character in everything you do
in the circle of life. You must not sit
down for three or four years of your life
and think of what you will do. It is
evident that work must mark your track
all along the line of achievement. If
you will qualify yourselves thoughtfully
and by all human instrumentalities, you
will have the flag of the victor at
the close. God has not created one of
us without having some place to put us,
and having something for us to do in the
great expanse of ether. We know there
is very fierce competition for places, and
yet I want to know whether there has
ever been a boy or girl in the country
who has been afraid to try for the top
on this account V All the departments
of trades and professions in the centres
of trade have been subjected to the
some strife, yet who has suffered ? Only
those who fold their arms and say :
"There is no use for me to try." If you
make a foremost start in character, you
will never fail The -world will then
want you for the world.
A business man in this city came 1o
me a few days ago and said: "I want a"
young man, between the age of 17 and
20. to take charge of my but*iness; the
remuneration will be considerable, but ,
the charge is important. Is there any
young man of good solid character you
can reconunend ?" This man did not
want a young man of uncommon attain-
ments, but he wanted a good Christian
young man. He wanted a young man
of sterling character and powerful indi-
viduality. Young men, there is this
difficulty with the young men of to-day:
\'ou have no purpose or character in
life. If you rouse yourself up and be a
model young man, everyone will be
pleading for your assistance, and you
•wiW always have a good position. I
could get places for a hundred young
men of real sterling and sound charac-
ter. I had a young man, who was very
j poor, in my employ while in Detroit.
I He used to make fti-es, sweep the church
and do other such work. One night
when I went down stairs for something.
I found this poor young man sitting in
front of the furnace with the door open,
and he was studying a book he had
Was this not enterprise? That young
man is now occupying one of the best
positions in Detroit, and is the recipient
of a lucrative salary. He worked him-
self up, and like thousands of others, he
has achieved success.
Young men, now is your chance, and
all improve it before it is too late. I do
not want you to settle down and not
enjoy yourselves I plead for a sound
character, for a rollicking and jolly dis-
position. With these you will have suc-
cess and happiness in this life and a
home in the next. [Continued applause,
and thanks extended to the speaker by
the President and students,]
to get a good general
haraeter, find out from
hat his opinion of his neighbor
"Titles are valuable; they make us
acquainted with many persons who oth-
erwise would be lost among the rub-
"We should be careful how we encour-
i step forward
from hoe-cake to plum-pudding, but it
ile and a half by the nearest road
we have to go back again."
is a great deal easier to be a^ood
dove than a decent serpent.''
" Dissatisfaction with everything we
come across is the result of being dissat-
isfied with ourselves."
" People of good sense are those whose
opinions agree with our.'*."
" The highest rate of interest that we
pay is on borrowed trouble."
"Counseling with fear is the way
cowards are made; counseling with hope
is the way heroes are made; eounselinff
with faith is the way Christians are
made."
" Curiosity is the instinct of wisdom."
the wet-nurse of preju-
the melody of the fea-
silent flattery."
just as much of a study
" Ignorance
dice."
" Beauty is
"Deference is
"Goodness is
as mathematics.
" No man is rich who wants any more
than he has got."
"The wealth of a person should be
estuuated, not by the amount he has,
but by the use he makes of it."
" Health can be bought, but you have
got to pay for it with temperance at the
highest rates."
" You can't hire a man to be honest ;
he will want his wages raised every
morning."
•'Toil sweats at the brow, but idleness
sweats all over,"
"Self-made men are most always apt
to be tt little too proud of the job."
"Trusting to luck is only another
name for trusting to laziness."
"An insult to one luan is an insult to
all. for it may be our turn next "
" It is better to know nothing than to
know just enough to doubt and diflfer."
"I honestly believe it is better to
know nothing than to know what isn't
"To be thoroughly good-natured, and
yet avoid being imposed upon, shows
great strength of character."
"If you analyze what most men call
pleasure, you will iind it composed of
one part humbug and two parts pain. "
"We are happy in this world just in
proportion as we make others hapjiy."
" It is a great deal easier to look upon
those who are betow us with pity, than
upon those who are above us without
" Kn^-y is an insult to a man's good
sense, for envy is the pain
excellences of others."
" It is a good deal more pr
make ten men think they are
than to make' one think you
him."
"Indolence may not be a ci
is liable to be at any time."
" I consider a weak man im
ous than a malicious one.
i feel at the
rofitable to
) above you
es have no
' Method :
cliaracter, but weak
everything, especially to
ordinary men; the few men who can lift
a ton at pleasure have a divine right to
take hold of it at a disadvantage."
"Be humble, and you are sure to 1
thankful; be thankful and you are su
to be happy."
—X. >'. Cliristian Advocate.
\
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
LETTER WRITING.
The Amrkican Pkxmax promise;* to
be an expon«^nt of the pratitical nnd or-
namental in penmansliip. The practical
value of penmannhip is measured by its
application to the practical affairs of
life. Penmanship in itself may not have
much value, but applied penmanship is
invaluable. This may be said of any or
all branches of education. Perhaps no
one branch or departnient in the eurri-
euluni of social or busine^* Hfe 1 vys such
a daitji on the art of penmanship as
does Letter Writing. With the idea that
the readers of the Ambrican Penman
appreciate suggestions and directions
with regard to this important depart-
ment of applied penmanship, these ar-
icles are written
These are single sheets and usually
ruled on one side only. They have a
margin or blank apace at the top. of
from two to two and three-fourths
inches, for the printed heading.
The ordinary size of Note Heads in 5J
x8i inches: extra size, called " Packet
Note," 0x9J inches. The ordinary Let-
ter Head is 8xlOi inches; extra size.
8^x11 inches.
Neither Poolscaj) nor Legal Cap should
be used in letter writing, nor is it proper
to tear off and use a half sheet of Note
paper.
Color. — Pure white is always elegant
and in good taste, although a cream I
tint is not objectionable. Of course, in
fashionable circles, there will be a craze i
at times for different colors, hence we [
find some of our leading paper niatiu- ,
facturers are putting up fine writing
paper for correspondence in a variety of 1
forwarded to the Dead Letter Office at
Washington.
/nA.— There is no color as desirable as
black. For business purposes, writing
fluids or so-called "blue-black" inks,
are used extensively. These penetrate
into the paper, and after a few minutes'
exposure turn black. They are sup-
posed to be more durable th'in ordinary
block ink. A copying ink is of a thick
consistency, so that when dry a portion
of it will lodge on the surface of the
paper, and when a dampened sheet is
brought against the written page by
proper pressure, a "copy" of the origi-
nal writing is obtained, which is pre-
served for future reference.
Young people frequently take a liking
to colored inks— red, green, blue, violet,
etc., but it should be remembered that
black is the proper thing for letter writ-
coarse business pen, I- have no advice to
offer. One kind is about as good as an-
I other, but the best is the kind you like
the best.
I But the article is already long enough.
■ I told you at the beginning that I did
not know just what I was going to say.
; Since writing that statement I have
thought the matter over and have
mapped out ajirogramme something a«
follows:
I shall treat of: 1. The Mechanical
Structure of a Letter, as already begun,
which will include the eight items al-
ready enumerated at the beginning. 3.
The Peniiiansliip of a Letter. 3, The
Rhetoric of a Letter. Don't get scared
at the word Rhetoric, for I shall not
write a paragraph, sentence, or phrase
that you will have any trouble in under-
standing. I shall not soar into the sub-
lime or scholarly (if such a thing were
I am not sure that I know myself yet
just what I am going to say, nor how
many of these articles I will have to
wTite to get through. But I am strictly
opposed to preludes, and as I will have
to begin somewhere, we will go right to
work at the
MECHANICAL STRUCTL'RB OF A LETTER.
Under this head will be considered
briefly: 1. Materials. 2. Heading. 3.
Introduction. 4. Body. 5. Conclu-
sion. 0. Folding. 7. Superscription
8. Stamp.
Materials.
Paper.— Care should be taken to select
paper of good quality and suitable for
the purpose. Social letters are usually
«Titten on note paper, the ordinary
of which is 5x8 inches. It may have
side fold or legal Cend) fold. Ladies fre-
quently prefer the "Royal" note, which
is about inches, or the "Octavo"
"ote, inches.
For business correspondence, " Note
Heads" and "Letter Heads" m-e u
tints, such as cream, rose, opaline, silver
gray, sea shell, azure, heliotrope, etc.,
but it is quite certain that white never
offends good taste.
Mourning paper has a black border,
as has also the envelopes to match.
Envelopes. — The envelope should be
adapted in size to the paper, so that
with a minimum numbtr of regular
folds the paper wilt fit the envelope. It
is not necessary, however, that the en-
velope should fit around the letter "like
paper on the wall," for, as a rule, a let-
ter is opened by tearing off the end of
the envelope, and unless the envelope is
from one-fourth to one-half inch longer
than the letter, the latter is apt to be
torn in the performance.
In business it is customary to have the
writer's name and address printed near
the upper left-hand corner of the en-
velope, so that in case the letter is not
called for at the delivery offire it can be
returned to the sender, instead of being
Pen*.— It would be folly to dictate as
to what pen to use. We writing mas-
ters all have our favorite pens for dif-
ferent kinds of pen-work, and we have
a right to recommend to our pupils such
pens as uiir r \ | ii-rieiice has taught us
art- \\'-\\ nlipir.i t.i the learner while
praiTh iii^' Mm iitrer writing i.s applied
peiiiium-!iip iiii-iriess penmanship and
applied peuuianship presupposes pre-
vious instruction and practice in the art
of writing; hence the question of pens
ought to be a matter of individual
choice. But it is possible that many
who read this have not had such in-
struction, and I will mention a few kinds
that are well adapted for correspond-
ence: Spencerian No. 1 and No. 24,
Eclectic No. 100, Esterbrook No. 128,
Gillott's No. 004, Payson, Dunton &
Scribner's No. 117, Ames' Penman's
Favorite, Gaskell's Compendium Pen,
Musselman's Perfection, and Isaacs'
Penman's Ideal. These pens are all of
niediuiu firmness. It you want to use a
possible for a penman), but will confine
myself to the more jjractical divisions,
and under the head of Rhetoric will in-
clude (a) Spelling, (ft) Capitalizing, (c)
Punctuation, (d) Diction, (fi) Construc-
tion, (/) Miscellaneous. 4. Classifica-
tion of Letters. 3. Cards and Notes.
6. Miscellaneous.
(To be continued.)
A learner on the cornet in New York
City, being ccnsiderate for the nerves of
his neighbors, did his three hours' prac-
ticing each day in the cellar. This cel-
lar had always been infested with rats,
but it was noticed that after he had
practiced a few tiiues the rats all disap-
peared and never returned. Beginners
on that instrument hereafter need not
wait for musical fame to earn a liveli-
hood, but can hire out immediately for
two or three hours each day as the only
genuine "Rough on Rats," warranted
to kill every time or money refunded. —
Tituaville (Pa.) Herald.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
EARLY ENGLISH PENMEN.
Colonel John Ayres.
[Speciftlly prepare'I for Tiir AmrHican Pbnm.
W. H. I»mrop. of South %^D. Maas.] *'
A» the Miooti in a clear niglit shines
very (!onni)ir:uous amongst the stars, so
Mr. .\yres ('(niiiiiands our particular at-
tention in the heniispbere of English
penmen. Yet his first appearace was
small and his rising scarcely noticed,
for we are told he caine np to London
a poor lad out of the countiy, and
served in the capacity of a footman to
Sir Williani Asburst. But his master
perceiving hini to be a youth of a proni-
i^itig and unprovable genius, put him to
.school to learn writing, arithmetic, etc.,
in which, by a peculiar bent of mind,
seconded by assiduity and care, he
made a surprising proficiency.
What part of England he came from,
and who his parents were, I have not
been able to learn; but after continuing
some years with his aforesaid kind and
worthy master, in whose service, it is
presumed, he might have laid up some
money, as well as fitted himself in some
measure for his future employn:ent as a
tpacher of writing and accounts, he
married a fellow maid servant, with
whom, it is said, he had about 200 1., and
then began to teach a school at a chair-
maker's in St. PauPs Church-Yard.
From this small and obscure begin-
ning, his industry and abilities, by de-
grees, procured him many scholiirs. "Or-
iiafiir propuft industria donis" says the
poet, and it has hardly ever been more
truly verified than in the increase of Mr.
Ayres' business, which, I am informed,
brought him in, when it was in its most
flourishing condition, near 800 1. per
annum. A fine income for a writing
master.
The first book that I have met with
that he published from the rolling press,
was his ' Accomplished Clerk," in 1688.
It contains S5 plates in a variety of prac-
tical hands, and was engraved by John
Sturt, who, I believe, was the best en-
gi-aver of writing at that time in Eng-
land, and was master, in that art, to his
celehrated scholar, Mr. George Bick-
hain. He dedicates it to his honored
master. Mr. Thomas Topham. who then
t)ui;j;ht a writing school at the Hand and
Pen, in F<'tter-Lane, London, and
though Mr. Topman was not an eminent
penman, with regard to practice, as far
as 1 can learn, yet lie had the honor (if
report says true) of being master of an-
other of the Worthies in Calligraphy. I
mean Mr. Charles Snell.
in 1700 he published another edition
of this "Accomplished Clerk," re-eu-
graved with Pome little enlargement,
having his picture ut the beginning in
his own hair, and under it this inscrip-
" Johannes Aj/rea, arithmeficcB ac artis
i-ritionaritE, professor apud Londonalea
jiixta divi. PaulV^
He has a preface in letter press work,
in which he tells us, that he had carried
the engraving of writing to a higher
degree of excellency, and made it more
like to natural penmanship, than any
one in England. Yet he was convinced,
he says, it was difficult (if not impossi-
ble) for the graver, in some hands, to
come up nicely to the nature and
freedom of the pen.
This observation has been made by
succeeding accurate penmen, and I be-
lieve the best of engravers will allow it
to be true.
After his preface there is a copy of
some verses, consisting of nine ogdoastic
st>inzas, entitled "The Inditferency."
Py This time he had made such consid- j
erable improvement in the practical
and most useful parts of writing, that
Mr. Robert More, In his short essay on
thf first invention of writing, says:
"Colonel Ayres was the common father
of us all." This was a grateful acknowl-
edgement of a true son of the calli-
graphic art."
In 1(!87 he published his " Tradesman's
Pocket Book, or Apprentice's Compan-
ion." It contained 20 plates in an ob-
long quarto, being adopted to common
business in trade, containing copies of
bills of parcels, receipts, etc. But some
performance of that kind of later mas-
ters are supposed to exceed it. There is
no engraver's name mentioned.
In 1694 he published from the letter
press. "Ai'ithmetic Mad>^ Easy for the
Use and Benefit of Tradesmen," in 8 vo.
It is dedicated to Sir William Ashurt,
who was then Lord Mayor of the city
of London. I don't observe that there
is anything extraordinary in it, though
plain and practical, yet it has been very
well received by the public. That edi-
tion of it that I have is the twelfth, and
was printed 1714. In that edition, there
is added a short and easy method after
which shop-keepers may state, post and
balance their books of accounts. This
was added by Mr. Charles Snell, writing
master in Foster-Lane, London. It is
probable it was what he made use of in
his school.
I think the oldest book of merchants'
accounts, that I have met with, in Eng-
lish, in the way of memorial, journal
and ledger, is one printed in 1588, set
forth by one John Mellis. who taught
writing and arithmetic, nigh Battle-
Bridge in St. Olaves, Short Southwark.
But in his preface he tells us that that
work was only a revival of an oldercopy
printed in London in 1543.
But to return from this digression to
Colonel Ayres.
In the year 1605 our author published
his "Tutor to Penmanship." John
Sturt engraved it. This grand work is
divided into two parts, and contains in
the whole 48 large folio oblong plates,
besides his picture in the front. He
dedicates it to King William the Third.
It is indeed a pompous book, and very
valuable on many accounts, so that they
who are possessed of one of the first im-
pressions are possessed of a valuable
Anno Dom. , he published his
Alamode Secretarie, or Practical Pen-
aan." in 28 long octavo plates, contain-
ig examples of the mixt running hand
and mixt secretary. In this piece I find
nothing superior nor even equal to
some of his other works. The (!Opy I
saw had no date, but he then lived at
tlie Hand and Pen. in St. Paul's Church-
Y'ard. It was engraved by John Sturt.
In 1700 he published his "Paul's School
Round-Hand." It is only an alphabet
of copies, with ornaments above and be-
low them, of fishes, etc., of free striking,
performance is clear and bold.
John Sturt, Sculpt. He also published,
but without any date or engraver's
,e, a "Striking Copy-Book." It con-
tains 14 narrow plates.
Anno Dom., , he published the
Penman's Daily Practice," a cyfering-
book, (it is so spelt) showing much va-
riety of couHuand of hand, with exam-
ples of all the runninc mixt hands now
use. It contains 34 plates, and was
graved by John Sturt. but the exem-
plar I saw had no date. Our author has
one plate of en grossing- hand dated
1005, in George Bickham's "Penman's
Companion." These are all the works
of this laborious. and eminent writing
aster that I have met with, and I have
little more concerning him, buc that his
was by small degrees, so his depar-
ture out of this life was sudden, as I
have been informed. He went to a vil-
lage a little way out of town (I think it
was Vauxhall) to regale one afternoon,
with a few friends, and he, retiring into
the garden from his company, was there
found dead soon after. His detith by
this seems to have been the effect of a
fit of apoplexy, but the particular cir-
cumstances attending it, and where he
was buried, I have not been able to
learn. Nay. I have not been informed
in what year he died, but I guess it was
in Queen Ann's reign, and before the
year 1709, for Mr. Uayner, who had been
the Colonel's scholar, and who published
his "Paul's Scholar Copy-Book" in that
year, speaks in his preface of his master
OS being then dea<l."
ONE THING AT A TIME.
BIG RAPIDS
I (MICH.) INDUSTRIAL Si
j Every pupil wants to succeed, likewise
every teacher, but just how to realize
j this success is often painfully perplexing.
I The teacher has discovered, however,
that certain principles underlie success
in every line of human action; in other
words, every successful effort has cer-
tain characteristics. This fact, though
trite and simple, cannot be too ftrudy
impressed upon the mind of both in-
structor and pupil. In penmanship the
learner meets many difficulties at the
very outset— po-si^/on (of body, arm,
hand, fingers, and book), pen holding,
wse of ink, inovemenf, form, etc., etc..
Usually he is led to make war upon
every one of these difficulties all at
once. If he continues this mode of war-
fare defeat is certain, because he has
utterly disregarded one of the leading
characteristics of success. He has not
learned, or else he has forgotten, that
"one thing at a time" lies very near the
base of making the most of every human
effort. Begin, therefore, by training
pupils to assume, with military precision,
an easy and graceful position of body.
Let the attention be directed to this one
thing in the prelinunary drill. In like
manner train the pupil in all of the de-
tails of positions, considering only one
thinff at a time. But little systematic
drill will be necessary to enable the
learner to assume almost automatically
the correct position. He can then con-
centrate his mind upon the other fea-
tures of the art. Pen holding anil use
of ink must each receive very careful
consideration. It is not sufficient to
tsWi. to the pupil about these two points,
he must be tiained to know and practice
them.
The " reason why " so many teachei-s
fail iu leading children to adopt an easy,
graceful movement, is that the mind is
directed to half a dozen things at once.
Let movement be the lesson of the hour,
the one leading thing, and success is
certain -movement without holder, and
pen movement with holder and dry pen,
movement in simple tracing exercises,
movement in producing independent
forms.
Let the child's study of fomi be spe-
cific, not haphazard— possibly by con-
tinuing his tracing exercises in his early
lessons, and by analyzing in a common-
sense manner each letter. We might
very properly press our doctrine of "one
thing at a time,'' still further in the
doing of this foundation penmanship
work.
We now call the attention of teachers
to the importance of inducing students
to search for their own characteristic
faults. Having discovered these faults
he should be trained to go at them sing-
ly. Perhaps one of his faults is irregu-
lai'ity in slant. If so. instruct the pupil
to concentrate his mind upon regularity
and practice with a real determination
to realize this one characteristic. He
must attack each fault In a similar man-
ner. The student's mental attitude is
the one great factor in the mastery of
any art. It is the mind that difi-n-.
wisely or unwisely. It is the mind that
first compels the fingers, hand and arm
to act with unerring precision. By ami
by the nerves and nmscles memori/i-
these mental behests and act autoumii
cally; then, and not till then, do w-
have the real artist.
We, as successful teachers, must recog
nize these simple facts in the work uf
muscle-training, in the work of teaching
one of the most simple, useful and hcati
tiful of the arts. In conclusion, we
again ask what is worth more to iln-
learner than the power to persistently
compel intelligent airtiou along the lim-
of doing " one thing at u time ? '
BEN. GAYLORO ON THE SITUATION.
By W. P. Cooper in the Penman's Art
etting hi
"Well," said Uncle Bei
staff against the counter, a
the store, and turning to the clerk, '* I
have just returned from a visit to that
Coiumercial College on the corner. A
fine concern upon the wliole— a fine
concern that. Those profet-sors are well
qualified, energetic and elficient. Tliey
evidently understantl everything about
their business, and they spare no pains
to pu t theu- pupils ahead, and they, " said
Uncle Ben, emphasizing the word tliey,
"sir, themselves work early and late.
They deserve encouragement and soTiie-
thingmore — they should reach success.
But in tliis, as in other business, there
are difficulties, perplexities, obstruc-
tions. Yes, sir, I luive looked about ; I
think I comprehend Ihe situation."
"There are grand fellows at some of
those desks; noble fellows. 1 could
pick out chaps worth their weight in
gold in any office, any coiming-rooui —
sharp, quick, critical and correct."
"Yes, sir," repeated Uncle Ben, in a
voice loaded with terrible emphat'is,
"They are critical, temperate, reliable
and con-eet. That is the sort wanted
here, there and everywhere. Those fel-
lows need no urging : they are on hand
at eight in the morning ; they leave
when the halls close and n«>f before.
Not a note, principle, paragr)i|ih, ex-
planation, or suggestion escapes them.
If they crowd their teachers a little with
business they treat these masters with
the most profound respect. Tliey know
their value to themselves and they have
faith in their words,"
" But in that school there are other
fellows — other fellows of quite another
sort, in fact, many sorts. They are not
from any special craft or quarter. They
hail from all localities. These younp
men are, first of all. our countrymen-
Americans to the manner born. They
have health, muscle, physical stamina,
brams, (juick eyes and ready ears, and
plenty of means, but they want back-
bone, steadfast energy and firumess of
purpose. They retiuire urging, need
watching, long for flattery, ask too
many graces, beg too many privileges,
fag the professors with repeated impor-
tunities too often, and, most of all, they
lack attention, perseverance and appli-
cation. They abound too much in fits
and darts, in stops, in absence and rests.
Some of these fellows are spoiled boys,
loaded with the perniciou.s fancies,
whims, caprices of jirincely names, Op
they have rocked off the golden days of
many a season in the well featliered and.,
wadded cradles of Hamilti
other priiu;ely endowed institutioni
These are not all alike, are not all
fectedin the same way, They till up the
benches, but are poor stock. The win-
dows are too near their desks. They
see too umch of the outside of the col-
lege, too many pretty faces, fast horses,
gay equipages, fine fancy articles of
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
dress, &e. Their uiinds are absorbed
with foreign matters, trifles, fictions,
stale and unprofitable trash. All of
these drawbacks are not the fault of the
original material, but they are the un-
happy drawbacks of accident — of
national, local and home foolishness and
nonsense. I say it is a great pity that
all this sort of college stock could not
be revivified and converted to use."
"This thing is possible. I wish," said
Uncle Ben, after a moment's pause, "I
wish that I could reach the capable ears
of all these fellows myself a few times.
I believe that I could impress their
really bright minds naturally with the
true status of the situation. I should
love to welcome them to a place in the
front Une, Indeed, I have in my life
given the right hand of fellowship to a
great many of these very fellows. The
college is a good thing and I heartily
wish it success, and I am ready to help
and encourage these enterprises on as 1
have in the past. I have had grand
clerks from these very concerns, and I
may want them again."
^^JjL^^
Fen.3ma,n.
m BusLneaa College,
PROVIDENCE, R. 1
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
Book-sellers, Stationers
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dozun plulD olcanntly wrltleii curds, lo cenla.
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Oop; Hum, per <Io»d 30 <
D. H. SNOKE.
Twelfth Edition Now Ready.
Class-Sool! of Coininercial-Law
SCHOOL AND COUNTING ROOM,
A Plain, Practical Explanation of the Laws of
Business,
DESIGNED AND ARRANGED
Especially for Class or Private In- '
struction, ,'
By C. E. CARHART, i
President of the Albany Business College
Used in all the leading colleges and I
Sinj^le Oopies, » 1 -OO.
For circulars or specimen copies, ad-
dress
a E. CARHART,
Albany Business College, Albany, N. Y.
A GRAND WmjOR PENMEN.
Penmen who desire first-class ink and
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^-^^^^rdtli?^"^^^''^^''^^'^^^^^^^^^
This Institution is attracting students from all parts of the United States and
Canada, and is now considered the representative Business College of America.
It claims points of superiority in its general course of study, in presenting the
best course of actual business practice and theoretical book-keeping ever devised.
It has a national reputation, and its graduates are tilling many important posi-
tions of trust, to the delight and satisfaction of their employers. The following
unsolicited notice clipped from the Erie Sunday Gazette of Dec. 6, 1885, shows
how the College is regarded at home:
s College iB an iQStltatlOD of wblcb Krle people should be prond. CommenclDg two years ago witb
. _yjjj^ jjm two Btndenta lor tbemto Inatruct, It baa grown until to-day tbere Is In noolber
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"Your coplUli are among tb. Bnost I b.,. o.or .»n.
your work la simply maryatoua." — A. D. Taytor, Ohicago,
IFaJtom i^mon, Ohieago.
D. B. WILLIAMS.
Bryant's Business College. Chicago,
Illinois.
50 LESSONS $1.50.
Continued inquiry with regard to "In-
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prepare
i Course of 50 Lessons in
Writing
4 Course of 50 Lessons in
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elegant Casey Block, Nos. 735 and 727 State Street. Those
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of Clark's College.
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H. C, CLARK. President.
t of SI. SO.
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ERIE, PA, MARCH, \\
Vol. 1— No. 3.
The Omiilia Daily Bee pays a very
flattering notice to the Omaha Busi-
neps College, conducted by Messrs.
Ruthren & Dailey, which is well
merited.
Into these three classes all teachers
may bi divided: Teacliers who have
nothing more to learn; those who are
imitators of methods; and lastly, those
who study and a])ply principles. In
which class are you ?
There is a world of truth in Josh
Billings' statement, that " Tu sta is to
win." How many golden oijjjortuni-
ties are lost for want of persistence.
In,stability is the shoal upon which
more lives have stranded than upon
any other, excepting, perhaps, intem-
perance, and the two arc very close
neighbors.
Xo teacher is too poor to subscribe
for a good educational journal, and
occasionally buy a standard work on
teaching. The live teacher must read.
He becomes liberal by understanding
the methods of others. There is no
I ttlier way of teaching, and the teacher
who is satisfied with what ho knows
will make no advancement in the pro-
fession.
It is with pleasure that we an-
nounce tlie fact that C. U. Johnson,
late manager of the Erie Dispatch
Printing Co., has become a partner of
T-J*rof.^01ark, v,f Clark's Business Col
\ lege, and that the firm, in accordance
I witli the progress of the age, have
I deemed it advisable to give an addi-
tional impulse to the promotion of
practical education by establishing a
Commercial College in Buffalo, N. Y.
Tlie new College has an excellent lo-
cation, being in the Coal and Iron
Exchange Building, and possesses all
the facilities that can in any way con-
tribute to the convenience and advan-
tage of students. The most modern
and improved methods of actual busi-
ness practice have been introduced,
afl'ordiug students the advamtiges of
doing business %vith the mein jers of
the various de])artments of actual
liusiness practice in the College at
Krie. The Institution is in every re-
plied well adapted to meet the de-
mands of the great commercial city
in which it is established, and it will
no doubt achieve the distinction its
superiority merits.
No AMOUNT of instruction, come
from whatever source it may, can
enable a student to become a good
penman except he apply it in a syste-
matic and continued study and prac-
tice until that degree of knowledge
and, skill desired, has becoiyie a part
of himself, a confirmed habit, which
leads him to do most easily and
naturally, the thing he aimed to do.
In fact, this principle is true in any
department of knowledge over which
one may seek to gain a mastery. It is
only by systematic, earnest, and con-
centrated study and effort that success
can be realized in any field of human
action. By this means, the profes-
sional man, the student, the business
man, and the athlete many times
multiply their" power of achievement.
For lack of systematic eflbrt, the ma-
chinery of success, many a worthy
amlutiou and good resolution have
come to naught.
"Why do we not teach writing in
our schools?" a question proposed for
discussion at the last Teachers' Insti-
tute of Erie County, seems to liave
elicited neither explanation nor com-
ment, though one teacher ventured the
opinion that children should be
taught to make things on the board,
but it need not be called writing
The indiscretion on the part of the
teacher who proi)0.sed the above ques-
tion brings before the people the fact,
long known to those who h;
s( TVed the work of ck ])ublic schools,
that the study of writing has been
cast a.side, and the fact that this tiues-
tiou brings to notice a grave derelic-
tion of duty on the part of teachers,
or an imputation to that effect, and
that it received neither answer nor
refutation in a convention of teachers
and school superintendents, is a tacit
admission that they do not teach
writing, and that they do not wisli to
expose the causes of such neglect.
The suggestion of the teacher, given
above, that children may be taught to
make things on the board, but that
we should carefully avoid calling it
writing, probably inipfiea that writing
is distasteful to teachers, which is no
doubt true, as they arc generally sup-
posed to have a decided aversion and
contempt for everything they do not
undcrettrnd. It certainly cannot im-
ply that pupils would take le.ss inter-
'St in the exercise to call it writing in-
;tead of "making things," for there is
no other branch of study in which
they take so much delight as in prac-
ticing penmanship. Are not teachei-s
of common schools, by giving little or
no att«.-tion to so essential a branch
of education as writing, betraying an
important trust? Arc they not sup-
posed t-o be preparing our boys and
girls for usefulness, and have they
found somesubstitute for penmanship,
in this age of great commercial enter-
prise, business activity, literary de-
velopment, social intercourse, and low
rates of postage? No, nothing has
been, and never can be, found to take
the place of penmanshii). Skill in
writing is second only to skill in
speaking. Parents deplore the fact
that their children do not learn to
write, in consequence of which busi-
ness men have difficulty in securing
efficient assistanls, and boys and girls
are deprived, of an important steg-
ping-stone to usefulness.
Superintendent Lord, in an address
before the Annual Institute of Craw-
ford county, speaking of the faults of
the common schools and common
school teaching, as an example, re-
ferred to a youth who had finished a
course in the ])ublic schools at seven-
teen, entering a business man's eni-
ploy, where it was found that " he did
not know anything that he should
have known."
In employing improved methods of
instruction teachers should not over-
look entirely the practical side of edu-
cation, if they would serve the best
interests of their patrons.
Let teachers make the same prepa-
ration to t-ach penmanship that they
make to teach other branches, and let
superintendents require such i)repara-
tion before granting certificates, and
one great stride will be made in the
du'cction of practical usefulness of
common school education.
Every young man, no doubt, wishes
to achieve success in life, a success that
shall- contribute to his own welfare,
and that of others; and he, no doubt,
looks anxiously about bin: for a
starting point upon which he may
begin to build. Very many spend
their lives in a vain search for some-
thing to do that shall bring them a
little nearer to the desired end; and a
singular feature of this fact is that the
very thing.-^; they need are spread all
about them in abundance, among
which are the means of acquiring use-
ful education.
Every young man, by utilizing his
leisure houre for a few months, can
gain a skill in penmanship, that will
prove to him an invaluable resource
in whatever he may turn his atten-
tion to. From writing, he may go to
most any other useful branch of
study, and then to another, and so on
until, in a few years, he finds himself
in possession of a capital stock for
usefulness, of which any man miglit
well be proud; and all accumulated
without taking one moment from his
accustomed employment, but merely
by using judiciously those hours that
would otherwise, most likely, be
frittered away in idleness, and jirobably
in the indulgence of habits having a
pern cious mfluence on himself and
his associations. It is the part of wis-
dom for every :i~]MiiiiL' VMun^ rii;ai to-
fix Upon Millie UMi'll V |Plir|ii.,-r. ;i[i.| \,h
begin at uncr, hy uril .IiutIi,! and
systematic effort to employ his leisure
in bettering his condition to liattle for
an honorable place in the world's field
of action.
BOYS, LEARN TO WRITE.
There is no accomijlishment that
speaks more tor you tlian a good,
plain and rapid handwriting. It is
what business and professional men
admire, and what practical life de-
mands. It is a substantial mark of
soliolarship that gives yon preference,
place and larger salary. It is one of
the secrets of success antl a golden
key to prosperity. The boy who
writes best gets the first place and the
first raise in salary. You can turn
many idle half hours and evenings
into a capital that will pay compound
interest hy practicing this most useful
and vahiable art. Don't think you
write well enough; nine out of ten
who think and say that can hardly
write their names. Experienced teach-
ing and vigorous training will greatly
assist you, and practice will improve
you. Avnilyoui-self of both means.if
possible, and you will find it tlie bei,i
investment of your life. — Penman and
Artist.
H. J. Michael, Engrosser. Allentown,
Pa., thinks "that every person who re-
ceived the first two numbers of The
Americak Penman inust admit that he
is getting the fiilj value of his money
with a good rate of interest."
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
WILL PENMEN CO TO HEAVEN?
While walking down a wooded glen,
And thinking o*er the pasi,
I sat to rest upon a bank
And soon was sleeping fast,
I (ireimed I saw the gates of Heaven,
AndheAid the music sHcei,
And, through its gleaming poMat)'.
Appeared the mercy seat.
I saw the good and great men
Of every land and clime.
And heard their tuneful voic««.
In glorious anthem chime.
I thought of all the penmen;
The great ones and the small.
Their rising and their falling
On this lcrr:stial ball.
But,
The Commoti Idea Among Boys of What
Constitutes Manliness— Training
JOHN QlINtV ADAMS' TRIBITE TO lilS
MOTHEK— THE INFLUENCE OF PRPi-
CEPT AND EXAMPLE.
I looked in at the gale,
ould I see;
I stood there wondering,
ngcl came lo me.
■aid I : "Oh, blessed angel!
May I a question ask ?
(, within those shining portals,
.A penmttn ever pa&sed ?"
what :
"I guess I do not know—
Oh yes, I do remember —
You'll llnd 'em all below."
My heart grew faint, 1 turned to go,
But saw, approaching near
The gates of Heaven, a band of penmen,
And waited
With bold and steady steps they came;
Friend Gaskell led the van;
A troop of mighty soldieis,
They had turned out lo a man.
There were Michael, Mussclman, and Ames-
Isaacs and Palmer walked side by side.
And Pierce brought up the rear.
Shaylor. Hinman, and Madarasz—
~ Dennis, Schofield and all the rest-
All closely following their leader bold.
Close to the gates they prest.
They halted, and friend Gaskell knocked;
An angel, bright, appeared;
And, when he saw this august (?) band,
He turned his back and sneered.
"We've come to stay,'* said Gaskell;
"We have traveled many a day,
The dusty road to Heaven,
And now, we're here to stay."
The angel turned him round about,
While the penmen shook with fear;
lie spoke with voice as thunder loud:
"No peii'iian ahall enter here!"
They turned away in calm despair;
A council short they took;
"If we can not stay here," spoke Michael,
"For some other place we'll look."
[And they looked
RAISED ON THE FARM.
"Born and raised on the farm." A
boy should thank God for being so for-
tunate as to be born and raised on the
farm. There is no place on this green
earth so well adapted to perfectly de-
velop mind, muscle and manhood as a
farm; there a boy lias the purest air,
the freshest and healthiest food, plenty
of unrestricted exercise, the brightest
sunshine and the soundest sleep — the
very conditions necessary for the higli-
est development. Nine-tenths of all
the men who have made their mark
in any business, profession, or pursuit
have been born and raised on the farm;
this is not so much because tiiere is
better blood on the farm, but because
the surroundings of farm life are bet-
ter calculated to call out what there is
in a boy and develop a full-grown,
healthy, perfect, self-reliant nnwi. — Tole-
tlfi Blade.
MANLY CHARACTKn.
The Philadelphia itfdflfcr recently pub-
lished an excellent article on the world's
ideal of manliness of character, and
makes very nice distinction between the
real and the sham article. It is so welt
written that we produce it as far better
than anything we can say on the sub-
ject, and it contains in no small compass
great and fnr-reaching truths:—
"There are few things more really
admirable than a manly character in
the true sense of the phrase, yet there is
nothing about which people make more
mistakes, or exhibit greater confusion of
thought. Every school-boy and every
youth commencing the business of life
desires to becomp manly, or at any rate
to b& considered so; but the conceptions
they form of manliness, and their
notions of the elements it contains, are
not only crude and unformed, btit often
shallow, superficial, and false. The boy
of twelve or fourteen who forms his
ideal from a set of dissipated youths a
few years older than himself, a^ies their
dress and manners, learns to smoke, per-
haps to drink and gamble in a small
way, struggles to free himself from
parental control that he may join in
their amusements and vices, and per-
suade himself that he is thus cultivating
a manly character. To cut away as fast
as possible all traces of childhood and
youth, to break all bonds of restraint, to
obey no will, but self will, to spend
fltTTSiTij tuiu irvB TeuRftfsttiy; seeiu to
many youths to be the very essence of
manliness, and they accordingly strain
every nerve to accomplish so desirable
" Some, brought up under diiTerent
influences, have other and higher no-
tions of manliness, which yi>t are far short
of a true ideal. Courage and daring,
with some, constitute its grand element.
To conquer natural timidty, to overcome
the fear of danger, to rush into fire and
water or battle with unshaken nerves,
seem to them the most worthy objects
of aspiration. Others think the acquisi-
tion of money is the great step leading
to manliness. They will relax no effort
to become wealthy, will sacrifice health,
friends, leisure, amusement, even a good
name, and sometimes integrity itself, to
reach this longed-for goal "
The common idea of what constitutes
manliness held by boys, at the very time
when character is being formed, is gen-
erally a false and a low one. Some
think careful consideration of and obed-
ience to tlieir parents' wishes and com-
mands are weak and unmanly traits.
They are afraid other boys will say
they are "tied to their mother's apron
strings." and so they cultivate the habit
of disobedience. All parents do not act
in a manner to win the respect and con-
fidence of their children, and therein
frequently may be found the secret of
the boy'?i eagerness to break from par-
ental ccmtrol, but where parents govern
kindly, liniily, and well, such conduct is
inexcusable, for nothing is more beauti-
tiful than perfect confidence between
parents and children. In John Quincy
Adams' letter to his son, extracts from
which have been published at different
times in this department, he says: "It is
due to gratitude and nature that I
should acknowledge and avow that such
as 1 have been, whatever it was, that
such as I am. whatever it is, and such as
I hope to be in all futuinty, nmst be as-
cribed under J^rovidence to the precepts
and example of my mother." ^Vhat a
noble tribute to a mother's memory. It
is true that all mothers have not such
noble characters as had Mrs. Adams,
but I have great faith in the final
triumph of early training, and can oidy
blaire parents for not having disco\fered
the correct way to moll and train each
peculiar disposition, when boys and girls
develop into bad men and bad women.
Again, as the JAdger says, some boys
think that smoking and drinking are
"manly," and at an eai-ly age have a
fight with nature, to win a victory over
the stomach, which rejects such poisons
at first, and thereby contract not only
uncleati but decidedly injurious habits.
Others think to swear roundly on all
possible occasions is a true sign of man-
liness, hereby contracting a mean and
wicked habit. A truly manly man
would rather treat an offense with con-,
tempt than show his anger or indigna-
tion by an oath. Swearing is a mark
of cowardice. It is not genteel, and,
says Webster, a gentleman is a genteel
man— wtfll bred and refined. It is in-
decent, and "want of decency is want of
sense." It is abusive alike to the mind
that conceives it, the tongue that utters
it, and to the person at whom it is
aimed. It is venomous and contempti-
ble, violating the divine law of Him
who "will not hold him guiltless who
taketh his name in vain."
Fre(iuently men of the roughest ex-
terior, who all their life have had to fol-
low the plow, or do the roughest, of
manual labor, are real gentlemen at
heart, and have more manliness than is
found in the costly homes of their more
successful fellow-men. Indeed he who
is the humblest in the liarsh judgment
of a cold and selfish world, is adjudged
the kingliest in point of manliness and
real worth by Him who is "no respecter
of persons." It is this thing of charac-
ter that tells more truly than anything
else that training from infancy and asso-
ciation is stronger and more reliable
than heredity.
SMALL TALK.
Nobody abuses "small talk" unless he
be a morose and selfish person, or a
stranger to its convenience, Small talk
is the small change of life, and people-
society— could not get along without it.
There are times when it is "folly to be
wise," when nonsense is palatable and
refreshing, and when sedateness and
gravity are well dispensed with. A
philosopher cuts a sorry figure in a ball-
room if he carries his wisdom and phi-
losophy with him. If his philosophy
does not teach him that he must make
the best of matters and take things that
he cannot control as he finds them, then
indeed has his time been wasted in the
study of philosophy. It should teach
him not to go to Rome, unless when
there he is willing "to do as the Romans
do," in a certain sense at least. Meta-
physics are as welcome in the midst of
strains of the waltz as a skeleton at a
wedding feast. There are men who are
entirely too lofty for stnall talk, and
regard with a mild contempt those who
indulge in it. They are above attempt-
ing to make themselves agreeable,
above pleasing, and being pleased.
They are all wisdom, all gravity, all
dignity, and all tedlousness. They do
not believe that the art of pleasing is
the soul of good breeding, and by the
course they pui-sue they make their con-
versation as desirable and appropriate
as would be the sounds of a Strauss
waltz on a violin in a church on Simday
morning. For all such we quote the old
time couplet: —
"A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men."
HOW SHALL I SUCCEED AS A TEACHER
I OF PENMANSHIP?
I BY PROF. H. RUSSKLL, JOLTET, 11,1,.
The above pointed interrogation caiin'
to me from a young aapirant, who say>:
"I desire nothing on earth -so iimcli us
; to become a successful teacher of pen-
manship, and as you have had upwanls
Inf tv'enty-five successful yearn hi tli.-
hari.i !s 1 look to you feu- a few point-
in The Amkricas Penman, of which 1
am a subscriber, also to all other pen-
men's papers that I have yet heard
of." This is a very sensible letter, for
every young man that will take an<l
read all the penmen's papers and follow
their advice, need never fear that he
will fail. Every penmen's paper that
has ever existed in this country I believe
I have taken and have contributed
something to make it interesting. I
have many bound copies of these papers
in my library, which I regard as a treas-
ure better than gold. While I could givt-
this young man my individual experr
ence, these papers can give the experience
of scores and hundreds of the ablest \et-
erans. which wilKtell yfju what to do.
when, and how to do it. Every young
penman who des'res to stamp improve-
ment on the wing»«f time will draw in-
spiration and courage for the good work
before him, if he will take and read all
of the penmen's papers. In addition to
many excellent copies for practice, they
contain a vfest fund of valuable informa-
tion that will be of great use to him
every day and hour of his life. Any
penman, young or old, who neglects tu
read these papers is penny wise and
pound foolish. In conclusion, let me
emphasize the importance of following
the advice of those who have been suc-
cessful, and take warning from those
who have proven failures, always re-
membering that—
Better than gold is a studious mind.
That in the realm of books can find
Treasures that surpass 'he Australian ore,
And live with the great and i,'ood of yore.
The poet's pen and sage's lay,
And glories of empires passed away,
All these a pleasure will unfold.
And leave us a treasure better than gold. J
TRIBUTES TO WASHINGTON.
All the good, whether learned
unlearned, high or low, r:
feel that there is one treasure t
to them all, and that is the fame j
character of Washington. They reuound
his deeds, ponder over his principlei
and teachings, and resolve
and more guided by them in the future.
— Webster.
George Washington may justly be '
considered one of the greatest men the
world has prodtieed. Greater soldiers,
more intellectual statesmen, and pro-
founder sages have doubtless existed in
the history of the English races,—
perhaps in our own country— but not
one who to great excellence in each of
these fields has added such exalted
integrity, such unaffected piety, such
unsullied purity of soul, and such
wondrous control of his spirit.— X B.
Vance.
Liberty unsheathed his sword, neces-
sity stained, victory returned it. If he
had paused here, history might have
doubttd what station to assign him;
whether at the head of her citizens op
her soldiers, her heroes or her patriotv.
But the last glorious act crowns bia
career, and banishes all hesitation.
Who like Washington, after having
emancipated a hemisphei-e, resigned
its crown, and preferred the retirement
of domestic life to the adoration of a
land he might be almost said to have
created. —Phillipi.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
LESSON IN PENMANSHIP.
In a previous article on Pructical
penmanship, we gave directions in re-
gard to position and the first steps in
acciuiring the muscular movement, which
seems to be gaining recognition among
progressive penmen as the most essen-
tial requisite leading to a mastery of the
art of writing. While, from the first,
perfect freedom and ease of movement
should be employed, and t-areless,
sprawling, irregular strokes studiously
avoided, the learner should keep con-
gtantly in view the desired end, and aim
to execute accurate forms of letters,pos-
sessing correct proportions, harmony in
slant, graceful curves, and even shaxles,
that he may, while developing move-
ment, study form, and cultivate a taste
for the beautiful in writing.
Free muscular movement is indispen-
Bable in achieving suci-ess in the art of
penmanship, but it should be considered
the means and not the end, and in gain-
ing a mastery over it. one should not
tention. and this attention should not
consist altogether in practice, butshould
include a great amount of carefui.critical
study of copies and all writing that may
conie imder the learner's notice.
Success in learning to write, like suc-
cess in almost everything else, depends
upon a well-directed and energetic ef-
fort, and by the application of these re-
quisites one can never fail to accomplish
most satisfactory results.
HINTS ON MOVEMENT.
The design of this exercise is to teach
the combined movement, and it is the
best eiercise I have ever tried for break-
ing up the finger movement. I think
the proper movement is the muscular
and finger movement combined. The
important point in teaching this move-
ment is to impress firmly upon the stu-
dent's mind that every stroke of the pen
outside of the downward stroke should
be made by sliding the whole hand, and
that the last two finger nails should
move with the pen. When the pupil
of business constitute a very small pro-
portion of those who embark in it.
Almost as 1 write 1 come on the follow-
ing item in a daily paper. Of a thous-
and medical students who graduated
from an English institution fifteen years
ago, twenty-three have achieved distin-
guished SUCCPS8 and siity-six considera-
ble success; the remainder are strug-
gling for a bare Uvelihood, have failed,
left the profession, or died. Other pro-
j fessions and occupations would tell sub-
stantially the same tale. Commerce
forms no exception. Even in the cases
of emyloyees in our large houses or cor-
porations, it is a fact familiar enough to
business men, but not generally appre-
ciated perhaps by outsiders, that the
men in receipt of one thousand dollars a
year or over form a very small percen-
tage of the whole staflf. When competi-
tion is so intense and the prizes so few,
it is easy to infer that the man handi-
capped in any way stands a poor chance
of forging to the front. In point of fact,
the great majority of those who attain
COMPENDIUMS.
In yom- February issue you expressed
tt wish to hear from those who have used
the compendiums, as to tite benefit de-
rived from them.
I must say that they have been of
benefit to me, for. although a poor
writer, yet I have made a great im-
provement by tlieir use. and have be-
come such a lover of the art that I hope
to make much greater improvement.
The compendium was the first thing I
saw in the line of penmanship to awaken
me to a sense of the beautiful in writ-
ing. It was Gaskell's Compendium that
I first used, and I still lik'> to take
it up and follow the copies A'ith their
fine shades and beautiful curves through
again and again.
That compendiums have been a great
incentive, and are still so. there can be
no doubt. We see stated time and again
that such and such a penman or famous
card writer, is one of the compendium
boys.
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1 Movement, by Prof. C. M. Bohinaon, of Lafayette, Ind.
lose sight of the ultimate object to be
attained. The exercises introduced be-
low are admirably adapted to the de-
velopment of movement and the idea of
has learned to slide the back of the last
two nails on the paper at the same time
he slides the pen, I think he has learned
the most important feature in writing.
[The exercise and suggestions on move-
ment, here presented, are given by Prof.
C. M. Robinson, of Lafayette, Ind. In
the next number of The American
Penman there will appear an extended
lesson on movement by Mr. Robinson.]
The oval in the small letter o is equal
in width to the extended loop in the
other letters in the combination, and by
keeping this fact in mind, the learner
a<^()uire8 the power to detect any inac-
curacy in respect to width. These exer-
cises illustrate the manner in which
most of the letters of the alphabet may
be combined to form excellent exercises
for private learners, and for use in classes
wliere they may be profitably employed
for practice in concert, to secure the de-
sired degree of rapidity. The capital
letter exercises afford the advantage of
being so closely connected that the stu-
dent, by comi>arison. can easily detect
irregularities and defects in form, and is
rnabled to secure a degree of uniformity
that will add much to the beauty and
utility of his writing. Many learners
are inclined to think the capitals are
more important than the small letters,
Kiid consequently apportion their study
and practice in accordance with this
••rroneons idea. The small letters, com-
bined in words, should receive most at-
Does college graduation tend to aid a
business-man in earning his livelihood?
I very much doubt it. A trained intel-
lect is a fine tool. But we know that in
many mechanical operations the very
fineness of an implement is a bar to its
usefulness. It either cannot do coarse
work, or it does it imperfectly, and to
the injury of the material on which it
operates, as well as with almost certain
damage to itself. Every-day experience
tells us that the analogy holds in the
ordinary business of commercial life.
There are a thousand contingencies in
the store, the warehouse, the shop, and
the counting-room, wherein the average
cultured mind finds itself out of place.
Too generally it regards the work as
beneath it, and, therefore, humiliating;
almost uniformly it finds it commonplace
and uninteresting, often positively irk-
some and distasteful, or absolutely
painful. The result is discontent with
— not rarely contempt for— the position
m which it is placed. "O quam miserri-
mum olim fuisse beatum!'' was the
pathetic cry wrung from the desolate
heart of Coleridge when serving as a
private in a British regiment of dra-
goons. It wotild be vain to look foj-
anything but a perfunctory and unsat-
isfactory discharge of duty from any
one who regards in tliis spirit the work
he has to do. Coleridge never rose out
of the awkward squad. The man of
culture whom the humdrum drudgery
of every day commercial Ufe affects sim-
ilarly is certain to continue in a corres-
ponding lowly position.
The men who succeed in anv branch
even this comparative degree of
have entered their house as boys, have
grown up in it and identified themselves
with it. It is their world; it satisfies
their mental appetencies and aspira-
tions, and gives scope for all their ener-
gies. They are, therefore, abundantly
contented in it, and the deft and nimble
execution of its most mechanical details
is matter of pride to them. They are
parts of a machine. Is it to be expected
that the average college graduate could
compete on fair terms with such men?
Nor must the fact be overlooked that,
irrespective of special qualifications,
mere length of service is an important
factor in promotion. Here, too, our
student is at a disadvantage. While he
was cultivating his tastes and forming
his habits in the groves of Yale and
Harvard, his less cultured rivals were
putting four good years to their credit.
It is much the same in other walks of
non -professional life. The men who
attain the highest positions in the exec-
utive departments of our railroads are
not college graduates, Ttie same holds
in the various departments of govern-
ment. Few chiefs of division or heads
of bureaus who have worked themselves
up without political influence are
college-bred. They are, for the most
part, practical business men.
Why. then, it may be asked, do so
many business men give their sons a
college education? Largely, it may be,
because such persons attach an exag-
gerated importance to any branch of
knowledge or learning in which they
feel themselves deficient; and, more
legitimately, because they have learned
by cxp.-'i'Irnrn that a certain degree of
Hible
■a. It
. the
«plH
I to
i of
such men have not to commence thoir
business life at the bottom of the difli-
cult ladder, but are at once placed on
the higher steps and have all advantages
in climbing. And yet, withal, it would
be curious matter for inquiry to deter-
mine what proportion of those youths
born with the silver spoon in their
mouths, could better or maintain their
fathers' position. — Lippineott's Montlthj
That the compendium-now published
may not be up to the times as the jour-
nals of penmanship and commercial
schools say, may be true, I would not
presume to judge; but that they were
the first medium offered between the
master and the pupil cannot be gain-
We are well aware that a student in a
school of penmanship has many advan-
tages over the self-instructor, or the pri-
vate or corresponding student. In the
school he has usually more than one
master of the art, from whom to receive
instruction. Then again, he has an op-
portunity to criticise and to compare
not only his master's, but his fellow-stu-
dents' work, which is worth more to him
than all the copies that he could get in
the world. But, knowing all this. would
it be wise to discourage young men and
women who, from circumstances, are so
situated that they have not the chance,
or any prospect of a chance, to obtain
the benefit of a school or master, from
getting what they can for a dollar, and
thus putting themselves in the best con-
dition they can by self-instruction, for
the active duties of life that may de-
volve upon them now, or for the oppor-
tunities that may come later.
While there are many who could, but
do not, there are very many who cannot
avail themselves of the superior advan-
tages of the school, and to this latter
class the compendium proves itself an
invaliuible assistant, and its use should
be encouraged by all who would see
progress in the art of penmanship.
A. B. DAhZBlx, McKean. Pa.
The other evening a corner loafer in-
sulted a lady, and a man passing, who
observed it, jumped in and thrashed
that loafer all over Ihe sidewalk, so that
the brute was sore, skinned and bruised
ver, and felt as though he had been
to a picnic. And the lady thanked the
gentleman, while the crowd cheered.
He said: "Oh, you needn't thank me
ma'am; I'm glad to do you a service,
and I was going to lick the fellow any-
how. I recognize him as the cross-eyed
pirate who put a bee down my back at
the M useum, 'tother ni^ht, and I 've been
looking for hi
-Boston Post.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The flrneriGari Penrnafi,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By Clark & Johnson, Editora and Pro-
prietors. Erie, Pa.
in ornamental work, but they should
eceivc very little attention from the
student before he has laid the founda-
on for excellence in the " art " by
lastering the muscular movement.
single copies I
1 receipt of B
ADVERTISING RATES.
Colnmn
$8S 00 Vif.
Itioo oi
1 re«r.
on
(luoo
S.
irtcr CulnniD ..
e Inch
■.■.•.:;: »" "S
5.100
Until further nol Ice
caab within fiO liaja fi
Ilendlng matter w
line. Nine words m
given on RetidlDg Ma
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
its class, and we desire thoiinands
1 all -pani of the t-ouiUry, uud all
persons snbacrlblug tjefore January 1st, issc, will re-
ceive ft copy one year for 50 cents. When a clnb of
6 to 10 la sent, It will he furnished for 4S cents each.
PREMIUMS.
We hiive raatle flrrangenienta with the jinbllsher of
the So'iUd-rn Progrpss, n new anil desiiable maga-
zine published lu Chattanooga, Tenn., to furnish our
the Soiiltiern Prowess one year for {1.00, which is the
SDbBcrlptlon price of the " Pt-ogress" alone.
To All persona Interesting themselves In be-
' Pbnuan and sending clubs
forwarded m The AiiEBiCAN Pknman. We lire
to give cash premiums to those securing ilubs, j
tlilB rule will be Invariably followed.
Jloney Order, Postal Note, or Registered Letter, 1
iNnnsw.'itoW. P. Z. Tlie obli<iue
holder lias advantages over any other,
particnlarly for the student and the
]jrofessional penman. In its use the
hand is i)erinitted to rest in an easy,
natural position, well suited to the
exercise of the muscular movement,
and the position and slant of the pen
point is more nearly in accord with the
.slant of tlie letters, making a smoother
hair-line and an evener shade than is
])Ossible with the straight holder.
Cure should be exercised in the
lection of an oblique holder, as many
of them, from their imperfect con
struction, are worse than useless. A
good one holds firmly the i>en, whicl:
should fit perfectly, so that its i)oint
will be in line with the center of tl;
holder.
Among the pens most suitable for
the student's use are Musselman's Per-
fection Pen.Spencerian No. l,Gillott's
No. GO-1, and Isaac's Ideal. There are
other varieties that would no doubt
give satisfaction, but the above named
varieties we know to be good, and
recommend them to learners, who
should have good material with which
to ])ractice, if they would secure the
best results from their effoils.
Tlic muscular movement should" be
employed almost exclusively by the
student of plain penmanshii). Other
inuvemeiits are used I>y professionals
OUR EXCHANGE LIST.
The March number of Th^ Penman^s
Art Journal does not fall below its
high standard of excellence in any
respect.
The Western Penman continues its
movement (-niitscular) onward and up-
ward toward a lofty plane of excellence
in chirographic journalism.
The Penman's Gazette comes regular-
ly, well-filled with a variety of inter-
esting and instructive articles peiiain-
ing to penmanship, short hand, etc.
We have received a copy of each of
the following college publications, all
of which reflect much credit upon
their editors, by their attractive ap-
l)ea ranee and interesting reading mat-
ter:
Penmnn and Artist, Indianapoliti,
Ind.
Normal Penman, Fort Scott, Kas.
The Amanuensis, New York.
International Budnesa College Journal,
East Saginaw, Mich.
Business College Mirror, London, Ont.
The College Review, Lawrence, Kas.
The Lincoln Monthly, Lincoln, Neb.
Normal andScientific Journal, Bloom-
field, Iowa.
Teacher and Penman, Smithville, 0.
There is a world of truth in the follow-
ing words of Dr. Lyman Abbott, that
teacherR will do wpII to thoroughly
study. Compressed into a few sentences
is here a volume of most valuable
thought.
"Tliere is a difference between learn-
ing and wisdom. Learning is intellect-
ual wealthi wisdom is intellectual power.
Learned men are not always wise: wise
men are not always learned. Learning
tends to give wisdom, but wisdom is by
no means always the accompaniment of
learning. Abraham Lincoln was not a
learned man, but he was a very wise
man. James I. of England, is said to
have been a learned man, but he cer-
tainly was not a wise man. F. W.
Robertson states admirably this diatinc-
' Let us distinguish wisdom from two
things. From information first. It is
one thing to be well informed; it is
another thing to be wise. Many books
read, innumerable books hived up in a
capacious memory — this does not consti-
tute wisdom. Books give it not. Learn-
ing coioes by studying; wisdom by
thinking. Learning comes from with-
out; wisdom from within. Learning is
an acquisition; wisdom is a develop-
ment. Learning may be forgotten, and
so lost; wisdom is a pi^rt of the charac-
ter, and so will abide forever. These
two possessions are the greatest which
J. M. Harkins, Calhoun, Ga., says; "I
am in receipt of February number of
your valuable paper. It went beyond
my expectation in containhig so many
good things on penmanship."
Prof. C. R. Bales, of the Evergreen
Business College, Bloomington. III., fav-
ors us with a list of subscribers for The
American Penman. Mr. Bales is a
fine penman and a prominent business
educator of his State, and we are grati-
fied to receive favor at his hands.
LETTER WRITING.
BY E. K. ISAACS.
Article i*.
For the benefit of those who may not
have seen the February number of The
Ambuican Penman, 1 will slate that in
my first article I spoke about Materials.
namely, paper, ink and pens. I also
mapped out the subject of Letter Writ-
ing OS I expect to treat it. and those who
read the first article will pardon me for
repeating the outline here.
I shall treat of: 1, The Mechanical
Structure of a Letter, wliich will include
(a) Materials, (fij Heading, (c) Introduc-
tion, id) Body, Ce) Conclusion, (f) Fold-
ing, {g) Superscription. C'O Stamp. 2.
The Penmanship of a Letter. 3. The
Rhetoric of a Letter, which will be con-
fined to the more practical divisions of
(a) Spelling, (l>) Capitalizing, (c) Punc-
tuation, (d) Diction, (c) Construction, (f)
Miscellaneous. 4. Classification of Let-
ters. 5. Cards and Notes. 6. Miscel-
laneous.
THE hkading.
The Heading, in a social letter, is a
statement of the place where the letter
is written and of the time when it is
written. BuBiness and professional men,
as a rule, have printed headings, desig-
nating the name and business of the
person or firm, together with the place
and a blank s.paee for the insertion of
the date.
The heading of every letter, then,
should contain these two items: the
Place and the Date.
The Place must consist of two items;
the Post-Oflice and the State. If written
from the country or siuall town, the
county should also be given. If from a
large city, like Chicago, New York, or
Boston, where the mail is delivered by
carrier, the number and street should
be given. As a rule, the Place portion
of the heading is used by oztr correspon-
dent in his return address to «», hence
care should be taken to make it accu
and full.
The Date consists of the month, day
of the month, and the year.
Position and Arrangement. — The writ^
ten heading may occupy one, two,
three lines, according to the niunber of
items, and the length of the words coi
posing it.
MODEL headings.
CNo. 1.)
Valparaiso, Ind., Mar. l, 1S86.
(No. 3.)
59 State St., Cliicago, TIL, S-l-'Se.
(No. 3.)
Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana,
March H, lS8(i.
(No. 4.)
S12 Wabash Ave., Chicago,
March 10, ISSG.
(No. 5.)
Northwestern University,
ISvanston, Illinois,
March 20, isSG.
If the heading consists of the post-
office, State and date only, one line is
usually sufficient. It should be written
on the first ruierf liTie. beginning at or
near the middle from left to right, and
should end near the right edge of the
paper, as shown in Models 1 and 3
above.
If the county is given, or if the sheet
is small, or the writing is open or run-
ning, it may be necessary to use two
lines, in which ease the arrangement
should be as shown in Models -i and 4
above. It will be noticed that the first
line contains the Place and the second
the Date; also that the two Unes end
even at the right, but do not begin
When it is necesssary to use three
lines the arrangement should be as in
Model 5.
Punctuation of the Headir^.— The dif-
ferent items of the heading are separa-
ted by comniOH, and a period is placed
aft«r each abbreviation, and after tlie
lost item. As will be seen by studying
the models, an abbreviation frequently
requires both a period and a conniiu
after it.
iVo^c— The heading is an elliptii-al
sentence. Thus, " Valparaiso, Porter
Co., Indians., March 1, 1886," means;
This is written at Valparaiso, which is
Porter County, which is in the State
of IndiKua, on March I, 1S86.
boBiness penmuriHliip, :ui<i :{;i)i!ii '\ ^<T■■•^^\[•[•••-l•1 jiri-
etc. it should have read: "Bui letter writing l.i
applied penmanship— business penmanshlp~and ai>-
plled penmanship presupposes," etc.
Also In the sentence, "These pens are all of lueiUuiu
flrmneaa," the last word should have been "tluf-
SPECIMENS RECEIVED.
C. H. Jump, Sandusky, O.
J. C. Knapp, Rushville, Ills.
J. H. Sohoonover, Colo, Iowa.
W. J. Bentley, Union City, Pa.
E. J. English, Cherry Flats, Pn.
W. P. Canfield, Cedar Rapids, la.
, Business College, La-
C. M. Rob:
fayette, Ind.
C. R. Bales. Business College, Bloom-
isiness College,
W. H. Sadler, Business College, Balti-
D. L. Mussel:
Quincy, III.
, Md.
D, B. Willit
cago. 111.
College, Altoona,
Bryant's College, Chi-
Business
W. H. FranzeU, Aberdeen, Ark., letter
and set of capitals.
Myron Ryder, Ceresco, Mich., letter
Prof. H. J. Williams, Richmond, Va.,
encloses his subscription, together with
a superior specimen of flourishing.
W. N. Ferris, Big Rapids, Mich., says:
"Enjoyed reading first number of The
American Penman. I anticipate a
grand success for your paper."
The finest specimen of letter writing
received this month is from the pen of
Prof. I. W. Pierson. Elliott's Business
College, Burlington, la.
From W. A. SeheU, Alion, 111., a nice-
ly written letter, in which he speaks in
complimentary terms of The Amebioak
Penman.
From C. B. Higpy, of Rioeville, Pa., a
hearty endorsement of the Lesson on
Practical Penmanship in the January
number of The American Pknmak.
THE AMERICAN PEMANN.
JOSEPH CHAMPION.
W. n. Lotlirop, of South Roston, Mass.]
In the account that I give of some of
our penmen I am obliged to speak with
iL sort of coldness and reserve. But in
descTibing the works of this gentleman,
I am under no apprehension of letting
my pen run too fast, in the tract of the
panegyric
So many beauties, in every pari/of his
Chirographic performancesappear; such
a masterly conmiand in the execution
of them that they merit a general indis-
criminate applause."
"He began very early to distinguish
himself, and to manifest his fitness for
that employ, in which he has since been
engaged with great reputation, for
above these twenty years. He is des-
cended from a reputable family in Kent,
years old. After he left Ur.Snell, he kept
I a boarding school in Saint Paul's
I Church yard; and has been much em-
I ployed, as a private teacher amongst
the nobility and gentry. He is now,
(1701,) master of the new academy in
Bedford Street near Bedford-row, from
whom, (if Heaven prolong his life and
health,} the world may still expect more
curious, and useful productions from his
quill.
''Anno-Dom. 1733, he published from
the letter press, his Practical Arithme-
tic. In the year 1747, he published The
Tutor's Assistant in Teaching Arithme-
tic, wherein the rules are explained.and
variety of examples given under each
head, with spaces left for the operations
to be inserted in. It was principally
designed for the use of schools, contain-
ing 40 plates in quarto; the greater part
accurate in many respects, is yet of
good use to one who writes upon the
subject I am treating of, by mentioning
most of the celebrated penmen, both
foreigners and those of our own nation.
And Mr. Thorowgood, though he has
performed the work of a curious en-
graver, acknowledges that no graver
can fully come up to the neatness, spirit
and freedom that there is in the author's
hand, a great eeonium from so prttper a
judge." In the year 1754, he published
his "New and Complete Alphabet,"
with the Hebrew, Greek and Genuan
characters. 1
plates In an ot
Geo. Bickham.
by the editor.
0\-et'ton, where
contains twenty-one
ng folio, engraved by
There is a dedication
ir print-seller, Henry
it is said that it con-
tains the greatest number of alphabets
ever yet performed by one person in
England."
S. Engrossing- hands for youngclerks.
1757.
3. The Young Penman's Practice, in
1760.
4. Two descriptions of Mr. Cocker-
ton's wonderful Oyuxstone on two sepa-
rate plates. 1758.
5. A multiplication table in neat min-
iature for the use of the ladies.
6. A new interest table for any sum,
etc. His most capital M. 8. S. are the
following:
1. A large body of penmanship in
common ink, addressed and presented
to the Royal Society in 1754. A labori-
ous and curious performance in 20 folio
2. The city freedom in vellum,for the
late Prince of Wales.
3. The Duke of Cumberlands.— ditto.
4. The Honorable Mr. Pitts.— ditto;
and Mr. Bilson Legg's. — ditto."
KCSiteftiipf
T'^irsi/fEATT:
as appears from a monumental inscrip-
tion in the cathedral church-yard at
Rochester, in which county our author
was a free-holder, but was deprived of
his birth-right by a fine raised to cut
off the entail in that infamously
memorable and destructive year to
many families, 1720.
"Mr. Champion war born at Chat-
limn, in the county aforesaid, in the
year 1709, and received his education
partly at St. Paul's School in London,
butcliiefly under that eminent penman,
Mr. Charles Snell, who kept Sir John
Johnson's free writing school In Foster-
lane near Cheapside, with whom he
afterwards served a reguhir apprentice-
*'lilp, and so well qualified was he then
for buRiuess, that he taught in a numer- 1
OU8 public school before he was twenty I
of them engraved by E. Thorowgood
and the rest by T. Kitchin and T. Gard-
While Mr. Champion kept school in
King.shead Court, the south side of St.
Paul's Church-yard, he published The
Parallel, or Comparative Penmanship in
1750, exemplified in four of the greatest
original foreign masters, viz: L. Materot,
an Italian of Avignon, 1604. L. Barbe-
dor, a Frenchman. 1647. J. V. Veldp,or
J. Van den Velde, Antwerp. 1G05. and
Ambrosins Perlingh, a Dutchman,
Amsterdam, 1079, It contains twenty-
four oblong folio-i)lates, with his picture
at the beginning. Mr. Thorowgood
engraved it. The whole is an elaborate
and curious performance; prefixed to
this Parallel, there are four pages of
letter press work; which, though not
Anno Doui. 1758. He began to pub-
lish The Living Hands, i c, several
copy-books of the round-hand, round-
text, Italian, runnirtg-hand, engrossing
hands and German text. There are
about 40 plates of them in quarto, en-
graved by Messieurs, Thorowgood,
Kitchin, Bailey, Howard and Ellis."
Our author wns likewise a great en-
I'ourager of, and contributer to that
very large and elaborate work, Mr. Geo.
Bickham 's Universal Penman, for which
he df^signed and wrote 47 folio pieces,
wherein is exhibited a delightful and
exquisite ^variety of penmanship, both
for use and ornament. He has pub-
lished some lesser pieces, which well
deserve public notice.
1. The Czar's speech to King William
III; engraved A. D. 17—. I
"In fine, as the Muses borrow from,
as well as are friends to every article of
science, I shall conclude this account of
Mr. Champion, with six lines addressed
to him by the ingenious Mr. John Lock-
"No sweeter force the orator bestows,
When from his lips the graceful period Hows;
Then words receive, when by thy matchless art.
Charming the eye, they slide into the heart.
When double strength attracts both ear and sight.
And any lines prove ple-osing when you write."
Mr. Champion, since above was writ-
ten, has published a grand and elaborate
work, entitled The Penman's Employ-
ment, containing choice variety of ex-
amples in alt hands of England. It con-
tains 44 large folios which Mr. Champion
began in 1759, and finished in 1763, the
whole engraved by Mr. John Howard."
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
PENMANSHIP IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NAL, HAKTFOHD, CONN.
There is no branch of popular educa-
tion that stands in greater need of good
teaching to-day than writing, and yet
there is no branch taught in the public
schools, or in the greater part of them,
that receives less of good instruction, or
coiTect treatment. Observation, and
conversation with teachers and school
olllcials during the post year or two,
beHr out this statement. I have heard
such remarks as: "I wish the writing of
my school could be improved."' fall from
the lips of many principals in recent
years. There is need of a general
brca/d/ig away in many schools from
old methods of instruction. When this
is done, there will be a general and de-
cided improvement in writing in the
public schools.
The first step, however, is the adop-
tion of some plan by which regular
teachers, male or female, shall be re-
quired to be as competent to teach
writing as any other branch they may
have to deal with. This will be not
oidy a gain to them — adding to their
other accomplishments — but will also
add dignity and worth to a branch of
education that has long been treated
as a sort of foot-ball in the educational
scheme, to be kicked out or in at pleas-
ure—tolerated but not treated as an
equal in the school curriculum. Teach-
ers are not to be blamed for this state
of things. So long as school boards do
not require them to qualify themselves
to teach penmanship, they will not take
the trouble to do it. Let school boards
or other competent authority require
teachers to be proficient in this branch,
and— with woman's well-known power
to do whatever she undertakes^-she
will surely excel. As a vast majority of
department teachers are ladies, perhaps
I am justified in alluding to sex. Male
teachers, in general, should pass an
equally strict examination. When this
is done, we shall not hear those careless,
off-hand remarks about writing that so
often escape teachers' lips. "O, I am a
horrid writer," said a teacher to me not
long since, and many times I have heard
such remarks from teachers, and with
so much of nonchalance that they
seemed to enjoy the distinction of being
"horrid writers" rather than to consider
it a defect, and by so nmch a loss to
their store of accomplishments. I am
anxious to prolong my terrestial career
to the day when teachers in public shall
be (is sensitive to their style of writing
as they are to their proficiency in ortho-
graphy. We shall then have a high
standard of writing.
The next step to take— after securing
the first, and to be taken whether the
first is fully realized or not — is to break
away from old and unnatural methods
of instruction in writing— methods that
have been tried and found wanting—
and pursue those that the best teachers
everywhere follow and get good results
from; such methods as will not only
give the young lad of ten years a good
handwi'iting— and should he be obliged
to quit school at that age, something
that will serve him every day of his
life— but if he stays to pass through the
full course, a handsome, well-rounded,
and fluent style that will pass muster in
the insurance office or bank,
ALL SHOULD WRITE WELL.
With proper instruction from the be-
ginuhig to the close of the pupil's com-
mon-school career, a large majority of
pupils should leave the highest grammar
grades in possession of a handsome
handwriting. The notion in vogue
twenty years ago that penmen are
"born writers," has been pretty effec-
tually dispelled by actual exi^erience
the public schools, and ii
schools perhaps more fully so.
very handy to have a leaning <
aptitude in any given direction, it
much capital to start out i
with,yet without practice it avails noth-
ing. There is more acquired skill in
the world than born skill: 90 per cent,
of school children can become good
writerni, if properly drilled.
SCHOOL SHOULD MAKE GOOD
WRITERS.
Admitting the value to every young
person of a good command of the pen
in starting out in life— and public
opinion is about unanimous on this
point— why not let the work be done
largely in the public schools, and thus
do away with the necessity of sending a
boy to the business college, except he
desires to extend his knowledge and
power with the pen, and develop into
the skilled pen-artist? We can send him
out a ready writer, and that is sufficient
to carry him through all ordinary work
in commercial life. Do the principals
of our public schools desire to bring
about this result? I aui satisfied that
they do and are ready to weed ont and
cast away old and effete methods and
take on something better, and this not
to please any authors or publishers who
may have books to be considered, but
for the good of the rising generation
and the uplifting of the standard of
writing. Let there be a long and strong
pull by teachers in every grade, from
the principal down to the lead-pencil
classes, and good results will surely fol-
low, which will be a sufficient reward
for the labor bestowed.
The next article of this series will be
devoted to the method of beginning and
conducting writing in the lower grades
in public schools, that has produced the
best results wherever faithfully and per
sistently followed.
Provide each child with several short
sticks, about the size of matches.
(Wooden tooth-picks may be bought by
the bos, 500 or more, for about ten cents. )
These may be kept either in small boxes,
giving one to each child, or in one large
box. from which they may be distribu-
ted.
The teacher may take a stick and,
holding it in a vertical position, ask the
children each to take a stick and do the
same. Ask some one to draw a line to
look like the stick as he is holding it.
Let theiu find several things in the room
in the same position. Tell them this
position is called vertical.
Ask 80]ne one to stand in a vertical
position, or hold a slate or book in same
position. Have the class repeat: "I
hold my stick in a vertical position. I
hold my slate," etc.
When this is learned, the teacher may
hold the stick in a horizontal position,
asking the children to do the same.
Place the slates horizontal. Have them
draw this line on the board, and find ob-
jects in the room in the same position.
Give the term horizontal.
In what position are the walls ? The
ceiling? The floorr The legs of the
table? The top of the table?
The slanting position may next be
taken, and term given.
What part of the desk is slanting?
What part of the house? In what posi-
tion are the easel and blackboard?
Place two or more sticks parallel, and
have them do the same. Lead them to
see the lines will never meet. Let them
find OS many parallel lines as possible in
the room. Then let them place ■ the
sticks forming vertical, horizontal and
slanting parallel lines, and find objects
in each position.
After the oral lesson, the children may
arrange the sticks by themselves, and
copy the positions on their slates.—
Education hy Dotrif/.
SUGGESTIONS TO AMATEUR PENMEN.
BY C. Q. PRINCK.
One of the most common errors into
which young and inexperienced penmen
fall, is the use of coarse, inferior va-
rieties of pens and muddy ink, the lat-
ter being often of a blue or green color,
which always betrays a deplorable lack
of good taste on the part of the writer.
Experienced and skillful penmen invar
riably select their materials with the
greatest care, as they are fully aware of
the fact that no amount of skill will
serve to produce a beautiful page un-
less ink, pen and paper are of the best.
Another fatal tendency of the young
penman is toward the use of superflu-
ous flourishes in his writing. Many an
aspiring genius flourishes up a letter
specimen in much the same manner in
which he would a bald eagle, or a bound-
ing stag, and then regards it as a nms-
ter-piece of art. He labors under the
idea that if he would gain a reputotion
as a great pen artist, he must execute
only the most intricate forms of capitals
and throw as many compound curves
around the small letters as possible. He
should learn that more skill is displayed
in the execution of a single page of per-
fectly plain, systematic writing than in
a whole ream of flourished letter speci-
Our various penmen's papers can un-
doubtedly do much to improve the style
of writing now in vogue among a large
class of penmen, by presenting copies
for imitation, more simple in their con-
struction, and devoid of useless and un-
sightly flourishes.
WHY MEN FAIL,
up to their highest
Some fail through
timidity or lack of nerve. Tney are un-
willing to take the risks incident to life,
and fail through fear in venturing on or-
dinary duties. They lack pluck. Others
fail through imprudence, lack of discre-
tion, care, or sound judgment. They
over-estimate the future, build air-cas-
tles, and venture beyond their depth,
and fail and fall.
Others, again, fail through lack of ap-
plication and perseverance. They begin
with good resolves, but soon get tired
of that and want a change, thinking
they can do much better at something
else. Thus they fritter Hfe away, and
succeed at nothing. Others waste time
and money, and fail through ruinous
habits — tobacco, whisky and beer, spoil
them for business, drive their best cus-
tomers from them, and scatter their
prospects of success. Some fail for want
of brains, education, and fitness for their
calling. Theylack a knowledge of human
nature, and of the motives that actuate
men. They have not qualified them-
selves for their occupation by practical
education.— Youift's Pilot.
A BUSINESS EDUCATION.
Every young man should aim to ac-
quire a thorough business education — a
thorough knowledge of how business
transactions of a complicated nature are
conducted, and a clear record of them
kept. It matters not what the young
man's station in society or aims in life
may be, this is an ec^uipment with which
he should provide himself. The young
man who is to-day driving rivets may,
in ten or fifteen years' time, be directing
the operations of a great manufactory.
That is if he has prepared himself to
take advantage of the opportunities
which present themselves to him; if, in
other words, he has acciuired the knowl
edge of commercial transactions, whicli
must accompany his transition from the
work bench to a desk in the private
office, where it is as necessary to be able
to understand accounts as it is to be
versed^in mechanics. Ho, too, the young
law student may have, at the very outset
of his career, the possibilities of becom-
ing the director and controller of great ,^
aggregations of corporate wealth— if he \
only understands business records as
well as Blackstone and the Code. The
same principle applies in every voca-
tion, and nothing is handier to have
around than a business education. Nor
is this very difficult to obtain. — JVewa-
Lctter,
sf^nvA^/^imffcssnxfONfsonAR:.
VOLUME FIRST
papiT.subalantlBlly b
WrlUDg, pboto-eDgra
It {■ jDit Mch a
ACRdemy.^High Schoc
celplofONE DOLLAR"
iddrew, po8lp&Id, apt
CLARK & JOHNSON,
CLARK'S BUSINESS COLLEGES,
Erie, Pa., and Buffalo, N. Y.
Johnson's Lake Shore
Home Magaxine.
Prominent umong the fcutures will lie sertos of
Tlirming Historical HOM.^NCES AND REALITIES
OP THE UNDEROUOUND RAILHOAD, as opera-
ted In this region a greiicratlon ago.
Choicest RcaOliie:, Literary and General, for Young
Home Magazine Co., (L'td.)
810 State St., Erie, Pa.
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
Book-sellers, Stationers
Also Steel Engravings, Arto-Tj'peg,
Pioture Frumeii.
GOLD PENS, feVYLOGRAl'HUJ HKNS, BOOERS' FAf
0*A Liberal Discount on Uoolcs to-
Teacliers and large book buyers.
8I« Stale St., - ERIE, PA.
»
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
50 LESSONS $1.50, CLARK'S BUSINESS COLLEGES,
Continued inquiry with reganl to "In-
struction by Mair" has induced me to
prepare
A Course of 50 Lessons in
Writing .
EliEeiE]. ^-f^-, aCLd- ^"CriF^^f^X-O, ^T- -ST-
H.C. CLARK. .-.--- ^- - - . President,
C. U. JOHNSON, .-----..- Secretary.
CLARK & JOHNSON. - - Proprietors.
A Course ol 150 Lessons in
Flouristiing.
[■of EXKBGISES, tbe SIaikIbi
•OABErS, Word Cople*, Seotai
lotj of Fane; Oapllulu, Muacali
«s' Capitals
> PBINTBD INSTRUCTIONe,
ILL03TBA-
wi-o, ...^-v—JHodetpllcI-
MOTEUENTS, poaltloD of
plea, proporOone, il
> 50-LESSON C0DB3E IN FLODBISHTNQ
.'», ALL FEE
oipllclt priD
pi ot 81
J°i. *°' "■
'"",
.T.oCouriM
....on).
83.00.
mI;
3*12°™
Bftr oomparison
BUI Note. Mo
•"""•'■"
B«KliUrea Lattai
B. K.
ISAACS,
,1 N. I. N
Schools, Valpara
ISO.
W. H. Slocum'.s School of Stenography is now associated with these Colleges.
Twelfth Edition Now Ready.
Class-Sook of Comnsrdal-Law
SCHOOL AND COUNTING ROOM,
A Plain, Practical Explanation of the Laws
By C. E. CARHART,
President of the Alhantj Business College
* Used in all the leading colleges aud I
schools throughout the United States
and Canadas.
Siasle Copies, J» 1 .OO.
For circulars or specimen copies, ad
a E. CARHART,
Albany Business College, Albany, N. Y
GOOD PENMANSHIP.
A GRAND THING FOR PENMEN.
Penmen who desire first-class ink and
wish to have it fresh and reliable, can
secure two splendid receipts to make Jet
Black Ink and Carmine Fluid in such
quantities as they desire, at one-tenth
of the cost at stores, by inclosing 26
cents and addressing
Prof. H. Russell,
Drawer 3,175, Joliet, III.
The Coal and Iron Exchange Building, Buffttii
rk->^ Bus
The course of study embraces the most thorough and complete the
Scholarships good in either College. Students may enter at any time
LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, good i ' '
of reviewing at any future time, •■
Good board can be had in eitl
Students enter into actual biiM
by any other Business College.
r Collegv is located.
I the world.
tical and actual business training i
_th equal advantages.
titling the holder to all the advantages of the Commercial Course, and
V $50
■ r I'.iiilalo at $3.50 per week.
■ ■\t.-.- as conducted between the two cities, affording advantages not approached
. .1 \ i>uiit,' men and women to attend either of these Colleges, as eciual advantages
^.^ to be had in each school.
The Institutions are in direct communication with the leading business men in aU parts of the country, and students
are helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difficulty m securing honorable and
lucrative employment, . .
^•- .- - .. . -.-.._.. ,, .- „_.. *u.. .-„*„_., ...jii t,p pleased to furnish infor-
jf^di^TOSS
CLARK & JOHNSON,
Erie, I=a.., or EMffalo, 3Sr. "^
L
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
BOOTS and SHOES.
GENSHEIMER^tBROWM,
;i5 stale Street,
AND KXJBBEK GOODS,
fortlioF«n nod M-roler <,^; •- b. lonnd In ihj cllj
Gray Bros, Pino Shoss for Ladies,
Cox, Gardner &Dorris' Pine Gents' Shoes.
CENSHEIMER & BROWN,
710 Wtot
F. W. MORGAN,
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Fine Teas, Coffees,
j SPICES, CANNED GOODS, &c.
The b**(*t selected stock of
FIITE GHOCEHIES
Always on Ilniid.
No. 3 Noble Block,
NEW CASTLE
Mutual Assessment
LIFE ASSOCIATION,
Of NtW CASTLE, PA..
Guarantees *he Face of its Certifi-
cates, Defines the Cost, Pro-
vides for Contingencies.
RATES ARE BASED UPON THE AMERICAN
ESPERIEUCE TABLES OF MORTALITY.
PILLARS OF STRENGTH
Honesty, I Qtiaranteod. Deposits
Solidity, and
Permanency, I Certificates of Credit.
$u3eUU Investing O^iOU
To Sample our New Cards and Specialties
ott-2 50. PeliTsr^d free, i3.00.
)LD BEVEL EDGE, 12 different ilyleg
Gold Edge concave, roiini), nlipp^d cornem...
Extra Weddlug Creum Wbito Tinted Cardo...
Back Wine and Blue Cards, very flee, only..
Best 8-ply White and Gold Wcl, aworled ill
I'll at -25 and 60 ceoti a doien, ca\l tbem only 25 oeuta
.liev amount to 837.00: deduct coat of stock you mak<
JtEAD—Bane elfared tlO In g day*' limt, hmt milf/ lutd «
fco—Prof. Onbb, WOmmslott, DtL Cheap fol of cardi f<,\
ievj Orleant, La. ' large Il^l Show Card, Prict Lul, etc
N. E. CARD CO., 75 Nassau St., N. Y.
>n8&-tf.
ABLE Pr,EMJUMtoself-i;jstruciion /
N PEN;rfANSHIP. FH,EE.
SPENGERIAN
TEEL PENS
JDOUBLE ELASTIC ACTIONI
SAMPLE CARD CONTAINING
20 DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF
PENS ADAPTED TO EVERY
STYLE OF WRITING SENT
FOR TRIAL, POST-PAID . ON
RECEIPT OF 10 CENTS.
lvison,Blakeman,Taylor,&Co.
;534 755 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
OBERLIN BUSINESS! COLLEGE
,!t,.,il. .„p.rl„r f.riliil,.. t; lmp.rlli>E • SOUND
BUSINESS THAINING. ^ w„kijr i.«i,„« i,y
Music,,fr«, Short Band Department .^u.i to
OBSKLIN COLUIi£'<lip»iDtiii of Feimuubip,
liTM .Teaehe.,' Cours. (IZweek.J for $2 5. CO
^n*t andD.1. Ooi-n. (12 w.«kB> lor _ 25. GO
riiU PtorM.lDD.1 Course (llmo unUoiltMl) 50.00
An .l.g.ol Diplom. I. ...rd«l to .11 On.dn.tM.
^M1li<tESCLVSlVELYA£0R00L0FPEHMAI^SHIF■
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CLARK &, JOHNSON, Proprietors.
H. C. CLARK, Editor.
S. A. DRAKE, Associate Editor.
ERIE, PA., and BUFFALO, N. Y. APRIL, ii.
Vol. -1— No. 4.
GRAND OFPEH!
ONE YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION TO
THE AMERICAN PENMAn
Clark's Prsgressive Bask-keepina
03>TE DOIjXj-A.12,
to all those who subscribe before
NIAY 1, 1886.
The iibove bjK't'ial premium is of-
fered for a limited time only, and is a
rare opportunity to get the leading
penmen's paper and a coi)y of Clark's
Progressive Book-keepiiig for One
Dollar. We do this for two reasons:
First, to increase the circulation of
Thi-: .\merican Penman; and second,
U> introduce the Progressive Book-
keeping to teachers and students.
Volume First, which is offered as a
premium, is the best self-instructor
ever published, as a key follows every
set, with full and explicit instructions.
No teacher in the Public Schools
should be without it. as the study of
book-keeping, by our method, is very
easy and comprehensive. Every pupil
should have it, as he will thereby save
considerable time in mastering the
full coui-se. Business men should not
be without a copy, as it is a valuable
book of reference, containing many
importtuit commercial terms, forms
and definitions. Every Business Col-
lege principal and teacher will find it
to their interest to secure a cojn'. as it
will give them an opportunity to be-
enme acquainted with its labor and
time-saving advantages, which will
undoubtedly lead to its introduction
into their schools. Academy and
High School principals and teachers
should have a copy of the Progressive
Book-keeping, as they will derive
much benefit from a careful examina-
tion and study of the work. Mer-
chants, clerks and fanners will find it
to their advantage to accept this offer,
as there is no work published that
will give them such practical informa-
tion upon the science of accounts.
Many readei-s of The American
Penman consider the paper worth
one dollar, and even at that figure the
cheapest and best paper of its class.
Do not fail to subscribe now, as this
offer will positively be recalled after
May firet.
Remittances can be made by Reg-
istered Letter, Postal Note, or Money
Order.
Address all orders to
CLARK & JOHNSON,
Erie, Pa.
Rapidity and legibility should go
hand in hand. It is certainly a fine
accomplishment to be able to write in
an easy and graceful style. You can
not attach too much importance to
this fact.
How old should a child be to tak'
his first lessons in penmanshij)? This
question is frequently .asked, and calls
out widely different answere. We
believe in teaching a child how to
write just as soon as he is able to
read. But we do not believe in al-
lowing him to be the subject of ex-
periment by an unskilled teachi
A good teacher of writing can benefit
most any one, and a child of ten
years is old enough to begin to receive
instruction.
Public school teachers should give
more attention to the subject of writ-
ing, and not depend upon copy books
to teach that which lliey cannot. A
good writing teacher should be em-
ployed by every well regulated school,
whether it be in the country or city.
If this were done poor writers would
in two years ft"om now be as scarce
as good ones are at the jiresent time.
The Business College is frequently
sought by that class of persons who
get no attention in writing while in
the public schools, and yet our
friends of the present public school
system say they are good enough and
cannot be improved. We would
to inquire if the public schools
are not getting above their business?
If the jiupils are not taught even
the three " R's," what are the public
schools for, and what practical re-
sults are they accomplishing? Will
some one please inform us ?
OUR EXCHANGES.
The Corresponderux University Jour-
nal, Chicago, 111., is an excellent
paper.
The Penman's Gazette for March is
the best number we have seen. It is
a creditable paper.
The Liveotn Monthly, published by
LilUbridge & Roose, Lincoln, Neb., is
a creditable journal.
The School Visitor comes to our sanc-
tum regularly. It is a worthy expo-
nent of the Northwestern Business
College, Madison, Wis.
The Westet^i Penman is a good paper
and worthy of a large circulation.
The paper is now published at Cedar
Rapids, la.
The Carry Institute Index is at hand,
and we find it a beautiful college
journal. The articles are well se-
lected and the paper neatly printed.
The Penman's Art Joumul is gaining
instead of losing in appearance. It
always has been a good paper, anil
we know of no reason why it should
not remain so.
The CoUegc Quarterly, published by
Prof. W. E.' Drake, Jersey City, N. j".,
is the ablest college paper we have re-
ceived. Brother Drake knows how to
get up a good paper.
!ZAe later-State Advocate is the name
of a new journal that has come to
our table. It is published by John
M. Reid, Morrill, Kansas. It is a
creditable j)aper.
The Rochester Commercial Review has
recently been added to our exchange
list. It is a bright paper, and if the
editor will keep watch of the The
American Penman, he will find it a
■egular visitor.
Homes's Ledijer, Fall River, Mass.,
s a very readable paper. It con-
tained the following notice of The
American Penman in a recent issue:
' The American Penman, by Prof H,
C. Clark, of Erie, Pa., is at hand. It
first-class paper and justly de-
serves an extensive patronage, which
no doubt it will receive.
The International Business College
Journal, Altoom, Pa., comes to us a
welcome visitor. It is ably edited,
finely illustrated, and well printed.
We clip the following notice from a
recent issue: "The February num-
ber of The American Penman, pub-
lished by H. C. Clark, Eric, came duly
to hand, • This is a new aspirant for
favors at the hands of commercial
educators. The i>ublication deserves
a large circulation, and judging from
the way Prof Clark does everything
he attempts, we conclude it already
has a host of readers, and will con-
tinue to grow and prosper. Our best
wishes, friend C."
What better legacy can a young
man or woman have than a practical
business education. Wealth may take
wings and fly away; reputation is lia-
ble to be injured, but acquired knowl-
edge is a foundation of usefulness,
perj)etually moistening the fields of
wealth and fame. Fathers, do not the
failures of your acquaintances and
friends, and possibly of yourselves,
appeal to you like the thunder from
Mount Sinai, to so equip your own
children that they may avert the dan-
gers that are likely to befall them.
Clark's Business CoLLEGE.s,Erie,Pa.,
and Bufliilo, N. Y., are now in the
best possible condition,and the Buffalo
school promises to become a great
success. During the past month,
which was its first, nearly fifty stu-
dents were enrolled. The people of
Buffalo are evidently not slow to
appreciate a good thing, therefore, the
liberal patronage extended to the new
school. The College is centrally loca-
ted, being in the t'oal and Iron Ex-
change Building, having elevator ac-
commodations and all the modern
improvements. The rooms are ele- .
gantly furnished, and a first-class
corps of priictical instructors are em-
ployed. Mr. C. U. Johnson is Secre-
tary and equal partner in both Col-
H. C. Clark is President, re-
taining his residence at Erie, giving
personal attention to tiie Erie College,
The schools offer equal advantages
and actual business practice is to be a
reality for the student rather than
mere school-room work, which gives
the Colleges advantages not ap-
proached by any other school.
We have frequently noticed that
those Business Colleges where a
good practical style of ijenmanship is
tiught, lead all others in prosperity
and general usefulness. Why is it?
Subscribe for The American Pen
M.\.V.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
THE CHRONIC GROWLER.
He growls about his boarding place.
He growls about his bed ;
He giowls about most ever>'ihing—
Wants someihingelse instead.
He growls about his laundryman,
Me growls about the tailor ;
He growls about the fit of things
Like Jack Tar board a whaler.
He growls about (he daily news,
He growls because it's new ;
He growls about an article
That doesn't suit his view.
He growls about his daily work,
He growls because it's labor ;
He growls because he was not born rich,
A was his next door neighbor.
He growls because he has no wife.
He growls about the ladies ;
He growls about the styles they wear —
Consigns them all to Hades.
He growls when he to thealie goes.
He growls abnut the seals ;
He growls about the play again
To every one he meels.
He growls about a legacy.
He growls because 'lis small ;
He growls as if it were his right
That he should get it all.
He growls about the Holy Writ,
He growls because he can ;
He growls because he's bound to growl,
He's such a cranky man.
ADDRESS OF HON. J. F. DOWNING
My young friends: I am not an edu
cated man or a learned profeflsor, com
petent to instrufit you in any branch of
science, or to give you useful informa-
tion in regard to any subject relative to
human knowledge;! have not the know-
ledge, and if I had, I have not the tuue
to prepare an extensive and elaborate
lecture, but what I wish to bring before
you thif* iiiorning will be whatever
call out from the recessea of my mind,
and which has been stored there in
years gone by.
Any one who has an opportunity to
store knowledge throughout life, will
find the trouble, that men will be able to
retain only about so much, and we for-
ive learned formerly,
i we learn the new.
as myself, forget
e of what we learned
ivish to keep up with
ontinually learn new
get that which
about as rapidly
So business me
that, or at least s(
in youth, and if w
the times, we uius
things.
I hardly know what particular thought
to present to you this morning. I sup-
pose young people wont soiuething
which will be held up to them as models.
Many of you are here probably by quite
a sacrifice, or personal inconvenience.
Some motives, which are honorable,
bring you here. All young people
shotJd have an inspiration, and I have
even heard business men say they would
go to New York or Philadelphia for an
inspiration to give them help to push
their business more energetically and
more successfully. These men lived
smaller towns around these cities, and
went to New York or Philadelphia, and
compared business life there with that
at home. They there found everything
and everybody rushing. You will
the same thing in Chicago; everybody
has not the time to walk along at 8
ular and easy step, but they go in a
rush. So these men go to these cities
that they may get inspiration to push
things. So young men may get inspira-
tion by observing the energy and bustle
of those about them. In country towns
the boys at school need a little oil of
birch to give them an inspiration, and
tell yon, boys, many of our suc-
cessful men are not ashamed to admit
that the oil of birch helped them to
their success.
ays we see and hear a great
deal about ideals. Now, an ideal is a
important thing. It is said that all
have their ideals. When I see a
young man, and I mean
too, who has no ideal,
they can hope for
ideal, in its proper signification, means
the highest or noblest thought, and is
the highest and noblest part of the
character, or that which is most grand
and magnificent in nature or action.
There are four classes— ideals of duty;
ideals of character, ideals of beauty, and
ideals of performance. From one of
these classes you must choose. Now, an
ideal of duty is very wide in its range.
Let me give you an example: A young
man came to me last fall and said he was
an engineer, earning a small salary, and
that his parents were old and not able
to do much hard work. He wanted to
buy a farm for them and pay for it him-
self. He said he was without family and
would pay for it as he could. That to
hhu was an ideal of duty; he had pic-
tured to himself that such an ideal was
self-sacrificing and a willingness to suf-
fer and endure, that he might buy a
home tor his parents. This is an ideal
of djity, and in it you see a motive for
such a duty. This is better s
this example. Another young
woman may conceive his ideal in another
way. He may have a great deal of money
and find his ideal of duty is in being able
to help the poor and needy. He may
spend his whole Ufe and fortune in doing
all he can for them, and thus finds the
summit of his ideal. Abraham Lincoln
was another young man who devoted
his fortune to the wants of the suffering
and for the abolition of slavery. A
Princess. I do not remember her name,
also devoted her life and fortune in the
same way. Her ideal of duly was to do
all the good she could in the world.
is another way in which you
may seize upon and accomplish the same
thing. A person who has no ideal of
duty, chararter^ beauty or performance,
is sure to remain on the lowest round
of the ladder of fame, and rise no higher.
A person may not, necessarily, have the
same ideal all the time. The ideal of
the man is very different from the ideal
of the boy. Several instances 1 remem-
ber when I was a boy. In those days,
we had large stage coaches, drawn by
four horses. I would see the coach, as
it came through the town in which I
lived, with the driver seated on top,
cracking his whip at the horses, and I
thought I should he happy if I could only
be a stage driver. That was my ideal
of happiness and beauty, when a boy.
I remember of a school teacher, who
told me that his ideal, as a young man,
was to own the span of fastest horses
on the road, but when he grew older he
did not care for such things. Take a
farmer, for mstance; he must have, for
his ideal, a successful farmer. No mat-
ter whether you are satisfied in life or
not, your ideal should be to rise higher.
If a man wishes to learn to be a ma-
chinist, a carpenter, or become master of
any other trade or profession, he must
have an ideal or he will
There are many men at the foot and
few at the top of the ladder of fami
there is always room for good men at the
top. You must have your ideal
business man, otherwise you will
poor driveling creature, never rising
to the true dignity of manhood,
must have these patterns before
which, it is true, are the creations of the
mind. A oaetle In the air is something
which we have no business to flatter
ourselves will ever materialize, but when
call to our conception that which is
grand in human achievement, there is
nothing which we picture in our minds,
that we can say we are unable to accom-
plish, iintil we have tried it. We must
have these ideate before us , otherwise
we have nothing to serve as an inspira-
tion. So I say this ideal, which every
man and woman should have, and which
is necessary for our well being, is espec-
ally important to those in middle life.
We live, as it were, three lives; tlie life of
the Past, the life of the Present, and the
life of the Future. The life of the present
comprises the enjoyments of the present,
moment, and those which we realize
most vividly: the Ufe of the past the Ufe
of the old man, who lives in the past as
much as in the present. I saw a Parisian
picture the other day, in which were
three old soldiers: one of them was
marking out on the ground a map of a
certain battle he had fought. These old
soldiers were Uving in the past; they
were recalling to their minds those
scenes of the past which were filled with
sorrow or joy These men could not so
much enjoy the present, as they could
the past or the future. A young man or
middle-aged man will live in the future
quite as much as in the present, espec-
ially the young men of our large cities.
What you expect to become, interest*
you more than what you are now; the
inspiration of the future, and what you
would like to be, is your ideal. Have
you formed this ideal yet? What is it?
What is your greatest conception of life?
of you are too young to picture to
yourselves what you would Uke to be;
i of you, who are here; are old
gh to have your ideals fully pic-
tured in your minds. It is necessary
that you should understand this, and
have it in your mind, before you will be
successful. Some young people will say,
what is the use of having in your mind
an ideal of what you would be, or what
you want to accompUsh? We may have
in our mind an ideal man or woman, and
you will wish to do as well as this man
or woman, and thus it wiU help you.
We are limited, more or less, by our
surroundings; we have grand concep-
tions in the mind, but we do not always
undertake to bring about that which
will give us the results. If we have
these ideals we must so conduct our-
selves, so direct our efforts and so apply
our energies that we can see the fulfill-
ment of our ideals. It is said that Mich-
ael Angelo, one of the greatest seulpters
the world has ever known, became so
enamored with a statue of one of the
great masters, that he caressed it, until
it showed the marks of his hands upon
it. This formed in his mind a concep-
tion of beauty; it enabled him to form
an ideal of beauty in art, just as the
study of Belvedere is said to represent
the perfection of the human f
is the same with the other statues, Dan-
iel and David, which he made. These
were all great works of art. This coi
ception, the ideal of beauty, helped hii
to bring out his ideal the more perfectly
in his work.
So it is if you go back to the age of
Moses, when there was no such thing
H8 architecture. He had a revelation
Mount Sinai, where he was taught by
God how to build a tabernacle. Whe
he came down from the Mount to hi
people, he did not tell them howto build
a tabernacle, and say that he had had a
revelation, but commenced it at once.
It was an ideal of beauty to his mind.
This ideal of beauty resulted in the same
way in the building of Solomon's Tem-
ple.
There is another way in which we may
have ideals, in regard to certain things
concerning the development of the
human character. We have otir
ideals of performance, or of beauty,
without whiph we should not desire
either beauty or good performance;
consequently these serve to elevate us
in respect to character. You may have
your ideal of a perfect man, woman,
horse, or any animate object, and Its
contemplation wiU elevate you. It Is
impossible to study such without feeling
the improvement in ourselves. Whi
do you think of a man or a woman
cannot see any beauty in the lofty u
tain and winding valley t I havi
respect for such persons, they show a
lack of education. We may not only
see the beauty in such objects, but we
may feel an improving influence from
their contemplation. No man can go
out in the night and see the stars, whioh
are all worlds greater than ourown,ajid
which were made by the same Creator,
without being made better by such a
sight. Who can view the Falls of Niag-
ara without feeliug the grandeur of
that magnificent scene, or go West and
see those lofty mountains, the tops of
which are always covered with snow,
and not be improved and have better
thoughts ? Whether we go down to the
things of nature or not, no man can look
upon the beautiful and not feel the
power of that beauty. I would not give
a cent for a picture which did not pos-
sess at least one figure that is beautiful.
There is something in such a picture,
even though it be but a figure of a head,
which flUs our ideals of that wiiich Ib
perfection in art. It is a constant souroe
of pleasure. Every time we gaze upon
that picture, or any beautiful object,
our eyes will rest upon its beautiful
points, and we will feel the power of in-
spiration, for it cultivates our higher
nature. A piece of statuary wUl bring
to your mind the perfect in art.
In closing, I want to say this: It doeB.
not do us any good to have these idealB,
or to picture in our minds that which Is
best or noblest in man or woman, if we
do it for the simple satisfaction, whioh
may pass so quickly. We must be able
to appreciate these ideals, and they may
be good, bad. or indifferent. The idei^
is that, as I have said before, whioh Is
the noblest or the best conception at
the mind. Therefore, it certainly be-
hooves you to have in your minds that
which is the most perfect. Then what
you must do is to go to work and see all
the good you can. and allow those ideals
to serve as your inspirations. Perhaps
many of you cannot see the importanoft
of so much learning. You point to
some man who has been successful In
life and who is making money, and say
he did not goto school after he was twelve
years old, and why should you not do M
well as he has done? Education, in
itself, is hapiiiness. and it will make yoQ
a better man or woman. When you gat
older you are glad to get this chanos^
but the boy is apt to think lightly of
these things. You cannot easily con-
sider, in everyday duties, anything that
is too difficult for you to do. It is just
like the conception of many of youp
earUest duties. You go into a gyiona-
slum and see those who are performing
wonderful things, and showing great
strength; you attempt those same feats
and find you are unable to do them. Tsj
to lift a heavy weight, and you fail; but
try to take a smaller weight at flrit;
the first day you are able to lift b|^
little, the second day more, and so <X^
until you attain the maximum of yo^"
strength, and you wiU be surprised to
find that you are able to lift so muo!!^-
It is possible to limit ourselves only by
our capabilities. The way for you to do
is to try and develop your ideals of life
in the same way.
Whatever your ideals of life are, you.
must try to attain them, or they will be
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
of no value to you. You miist have
tbe«e ideulw and conceptions of charac-
ter, and sliould try and live up to them.
Think about them, and they will lift
you higher and higher in the scale of
beauty and moral culture; you will then
be able the better to see the moral at-
tributes of character. When it relates
to the elements of character or the per-
foniiance of duty, they will serve you as
helps, and then you will be better able
to fulfill the ambition of your ideals and
attain the mark of successful manhood.
LETTER WRITING.
BT E. K. ISAACS, VALPARAISO, IND.
Article TIT.
THE INTRODUCTION.
The Introduction to a letter may
consist of one, two, three, or four lines,
as shown in the following
MODEL INTRODUCTIONS.
No. 1.
/)car Sir:
drtmti of the party to whom the letter is
written.
The third, fourth, and fifth introduc-
tions above are complete, inasmuch as
they give the full name and address;
the first and second are incomplete.
If the first or second model is used,
the name and address should be* written
at tlie close of the letter in the lower
left-hand corner.
The .S'a^wtoi/o/i.— In social correspond-
ence, the form of salutation should be
governed chiefly by the relation of the
writer to the person addressed. Among
the expressions used are: Dear Friend,
My Dear Friend, Kind Friend, Friend
Minnie, Dear Friend Ocorffe, Dear
Father, My Dear Mother, Dear Parents,
Dearest Jane, Dear Mias Hammond,
In busmess letters, the ordinary salu-
tations in addressing a gentleman, are:
Sir, Dear Sir, My Dear Sir. In address-
ing a firm or a number of persons: Sirs,
Dear Sirs, Oentlemen. To a married
lady, Madam, Dear Madam. In ad-
tion, as in Model 5, it is best to begin
the salutation back at the marginal
line.
The punctuation mark after the salu-
tation, in social or friendship letters,
may be a comma, or a comma and a
dash; in business correspondence, a
colon, or a colon and a dash.
The body is the communication itself,
exclusive of the heading, introduction,
and conclusion. As already stated
above, when the introduction occupies
one or two lines, the first line of the
body should begin on the next line be-
low; if the introduction occupies more
than two lines, the body should begin
on the same line with the salutation.
2he Margin is the blank space at the
left of the page. Its width is governed
by the size of the sheet; in note paper
from one-fourth to one half inch, letter
paper from one-half to three fourths
inch. Care should be taken to keep the
marginal line straight, and parallel with
the edge of the paper.
should be signed with the fidl name of
the writer. In writing to a stran>;er, a
lady should sign her name in sucli a
way as to indicate not only her sex, but
whether she is married or single, other-
wise her correspondent will not know
whether to address the answer to 3/r.,
Mis
Mrs.
If the writer wishes the answer to his
letter directed to any other place than
that given at the heading of the letter,
he should write his directions under the
signature.
Position and Arrangement of the Con-
clmion.—The Complimentary Close usu-
ally occupies but one line; but when
very long, as in official letters, it may
occupy two or three lines. In either
case, it begins on fixe first line below the
body, either at the middle of the line,
or a little to the right or to the left of
the middle, depending on the size of the
sheet, and the nuoiber and length of
the words composing it.
The signature is written on the nest
line below the Complimentary Close,
and should end near the right edge of
the sheet.
No. 2.
A. H. Hlnman,
Dear Sir.
No. 4.
A. H. Hinman,
Worcester, Mass,
Dear Sir:
No. 5.
A. H. Hinman,
79 Madison St.,
Worcester, Mas)i.
Dear Sir:
It is desirable that a letter Bhould
contain the full name and address of
the person to whom it is written, as well
ns the name and address of the writer,
so that in ease the outside address on
the envelope should be effaced and the
letter go astray, it could be restored to
♦either party. The heading and signa-
ture furnish the name and address of
the writer; and the introduction, when
written in full, gives the name and ad-
ried lady, the
salutations may be used, or the saluta-
tion may be omitted, her name only be-
ing used.
Position and arringcment of the Tntro-
duc'/ion.— The Introduction should be-
gin at the marginal line at the left, and
on the first line below the heading.
In using Models 1 and 3, the body of
the letter should begin on the first line
below the salutation, and just at the
right When either number 3, 4, or 5
is used, the body of the letter should
begin 071 the same line with the saluta-
tion, and about one-half inch to the
right. When writing on note paper or
note heads, as a rule it is preferable to
bring the salutation back to the mar-
ginal line as in Model 4. If letter paper
or letter heads are used, the arrange-
ment may be either as in Model 3, or
Model 4. unless the address should be
very long, when the arrangement of
Model 4 is preferable, thus:
Iviaon, Btakeman^ Taylor & Co. ,
755 Broadway, New York-
Dear Sirs:
If four lines are used for the introduc-
/'ara.cy/'«p/jj*.— Like other composition,
a letter should be divided into para-
graphs, according to the different dis-
connected subjects of which it treats.
Each paragraph, except the first,should
begin about three-fourths of an inch to
the right of the marginal line. A little
attention given to margining and para-
graphing adds much to the appearance
of a letter.
CONCLUSION.
The Conclusion generally consists of
the Complimentary Close, and the Sig-
nature.
The Complimentary Close is the term
of endearment or respect preceding the
signature. Among the most common
expre.ssions for social correspondence,
are: Your friend. Your true friend.
Yours sincerely. Yours affectionately.
Your sincere friend, Ever Yours, Your
Loving Wife, etc. In busines:* letters,
or in letters to strangers or mere ac-
quaintances, the following forms are
appropriate: Yours, Yours Truly, Truly
Yours, Yours Pespectfutty, Very Pe-
apcetfully, Youra Pesp'y, Very truly
yours, etc.
The Signature.— As a rule, all letters
FOLDING.
Folding a letter is a simple operation,
yet it is often very awswardly per-
formed. The following directions will
aid the inexperienced:
Note Paper and Note Heads.— Fok\
the lower half up so as to have the bot-
tom edge nearlv meet the top edge;
then fold the right third over to ftie
left, and the left third over to the right.
The directions presuppose that the
first page of the paper is turned up, and
that the envelope is adapted to the
paper. If the envelope is square, as is
frequently the case in fancy stationery,
the paper requires but a single fold.
The crease last folded shouUl be in-
serted into the envelope first
MODEL CONCLISIONS.
No. 1.
Yoi/rs Pfs/jccffully,
Henry C. Smith.
( With address.)
Yours very truly,
B. M. Woodinff.
'n. Wis.
No.
No.
r obedient Servant,
Very RcsncetfuUy,
\ "'"•'iitttt. .jwt/i*.»i.,
D. M. Hendet
No. 4.
Respectfully,
(Miss) Jennie Lemuel.
[TO HE CONTINUED.]
'(.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The AnieriGari PeFiniati,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
Slnf^Ie copies of TnK ;
ADVERTISING RATES.
m wui give a
2
11 jenr.
WW
Until further n
per cent, from a
r.
paylDg
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
PREMIUMS.
\'e liave made arrangements with the pabllaher of
e published In Chattanooga, Tenn., to furnlah onr
tgress one year for$1.00,wlilcti Is the
Bnbscrlption price of the "Pcoffress" alone.
To all peraons Interesting
half of TOE AMERICAN PENM
all subscript JODfl
PsNMAN. We prefer
secuiins clubs, and
forwarded to The
to give cash premiums
this rule wUl be Invariably followed.
Remittances should be made by N. T. Draft, P.
Money Or<ler, Postal Note, or Beglsiered Letter, t
CLARK &. JOHNSON.
The value of business education is
something that cannot be estimated.
A great majority of the assignments
and failures in business could be
avoided by properiy educating the
business men. The problem, "How
to Succeed in Business," is one which
has occujiied, or should occupy, the
attention of every young man in
America. This problem admits of
but one solution, viz.: Make a thor-
ough preparation. Obtain a solid
foundation in the way of business
education at some first-class Business
College. A thorough business train-
ing lies within the reach of every en-
ergetic young man. If his means are
limited* and it is impossible for him
to obtain a thorough classical training,
he should be stimulated the more to
j^rasp that which lies within his reach.
The average young man, by his own
(wertion, within the space of twelve
months, can earn money enough and
complete a course in a first-class
Business College. What excuse can
be made ? The time when "ignorance
was bliss" has long since passed, and
to-day the world admires the success-
ful man. Get a thorough business
training and you have a foundation
upon which to build a successful life.
Subscribe for Thk Amekican Pkn-
PEXMANSHn*, in some of the Busi-
ness Colleges, has been so simplified
and overhauled that the students are
beginning to wonder what these
schools are for but to teach a busi-
ness education, and if penmanship is
not used in business, how long has it
been since some of these commercial
schools found it out. "Why, young
man," says the Principal, "we believe
in allowing the student to select his
own idea of writing, and work right
along in that line. There is no need
of teaching practical penmanship,
when we have engraved copies for
him to follow; as they are so much
better than any copy that a teacher
can write, we do not bother our
heads about it." Poor misguided
college man, you ought to be pr
cuted for perpetrating a fraud. Do
you not know that the public patron-
ize your institution quite as much for
the penmanship as anything else, and
if you do not give proper instruction
in that branch, your college should
close its doors. "Teach your boys
that which they will practice when
they become men," means a good
handwriting fully as much as a com-
plete knowledge of accounts.
It is a rtmarkable fact that often a
good book-keeper who writes poorly
is obliged to make room for a less
competent accountant, who is a much
better penman. Is this consistency?
Well, we are of the opinion that good
writing will come out ahead in a
hand-to-hand contest.
PERSONAL MENTION.
J. W. Merchant, Kansas City, Mo.,
writes a fine business hand,
N. E. Young, New Straitsville, 0.,
writes a beautiful letter.
A. B. Katkamier, Farmington, N. Y.,
favors us with a beautifully written
letter.
McKee & Henderson, Oberlin, 0.,
favors us with a beautifully written
letter.
W. H. Lothrop, of South Boston,
Mass., favoi-s us with a beautiful speci-
men of letter writing.
The Wilton (la.) Review pays a very
handsome compliment to Prof. A. E.
Parsons, the popular penman.
M. H. Barringer, of the Western
Business College, Gatesburg, III., says:
" The American Penman is a neat
paper and worthy a large circulation.
J. H. Cottle, Fort Tottcn, Dak., en-
closes in a well-written letter several
beautifully written cards. In his let-
ter be says: "As long as your paper
keeps up the standard it now has, you
can rest easy that you will succeed."
W. H. FranzeU, teacher of penman-
ship, Aberdem, Ark., encloses speci-
mens of card writing that are very
beautiful. In his letter he takes occa-
sion to say: " The March number of
The American Penman at hand. It
is fine, and continues to improve. I
find it a neat and attractive journal,
fully up with the times, and it de-
serves to be a regular visitor to all who
are interested in fine penmanship."
C. E. Simpson, Saco, Me., in a skill-
fully written letter, says: " Please
send me three more copies of the
March number of The American
Penman. I am so well pleased with
it that I want to send my fi-iends a
copy."
F. L. Christopher, Danville, 111.,
says: "The American Penman is one
of the spiciest penmen's papers it has
been my lot to receive, and I have
ceived a great many. Success to y(
efforts."
W. G. Christie, of Christie's School
of Business, Lock Haven, Pa., sends
us one of the best written letters for
the month. He evidently is a supe-
rior penman, and shows his apprecia'
tion of The American Penman by
enclosing his subscri])tion for the
same.
D. H. Farley, the popular penman
of Trenton, N. J., in an elegantly
written letter, says; "Your American
Penman is a credit to yourself and
the profession. Enclosed find fifty
cents as a subscriber."
A. N. Palmer, editor of the Western
Penman, has removed from Chicago to
Cedar Rapids, la. We wish him a
full measure of success, and hope he
will be as happy as a young sparrow
in his upw location^ - ,
A. E. Scheithe, a student of the Pen-
manship Department of Clark's Col-
lege at Erie, is making rapid improve-
ment, and his intentions are to stand
at the head of the profession. We
hope he may.
J. H. Topper, of Waterford, Pa., is
now pursuing a course in the Pen-
manship Department of Clark's Col-
lege, and he writes a beautiful hand.
He intends to make penmanship a
profession.
S. S. Packard, New Turk, favors us
with a copy of his " Practical Evolu-
tion," in the form of " a souvenir."
It is the best thing of the kind we
have ever seen.
E. K. Isaacs, Valparaiso, Ind.,
promises to give a lesson in flourish-
ing in the next number. He is a
master of the pen, and our readers
may expect something good from
him.
C. G. Prince, formerly Secretary of
Clark's College at Erie, is now teacher
of Penmanship in the Buffalo College.
He is a very skillful penman and an
excellent teacher.
W. P. Richardson, Business College,
Fayette, 0., favors us with me of the
finest specimens of flourishing that
has ever been presented to The
American Penman. It will probably
appear in a future number. He says:
*' I find that The American Penman
(March number) is full of grod'
thoughts and sugj,'estions, which I
have not found in any other paper of
the kind. It.is a great help to me in
teaching the beautiful art. Am get-
ting up another club." That is right.
S. S. Spaulding, formerly Professor
of Actual Business Practice, and asso-
ciate author of Clark's Progressive
Book-keeping, is now identified with
Clark's College at Buff'alo. He has a .
host of friends who will wish him.l
abundant success in his new field of 1
labor.
J. H. Topping, Newburgh, N. Y.,
encloses specimens of flourishing, in a
well-written letter, and tiikes time to
say: " I am well pleased with my in-
vestment for The American Penman."
Mr. T. is only seventeen, but his writ-
ing would do credit to many of the
older penmen.
Prof. E. D. Wilcox, late of Roches-
ter, N. Y., is meeting with marked
success as instructor in the Depart-
ment of Stenography, Clark's College^
at Erie.
CLARK'S PROGRESSIVE BOOK-
KEEPING.
This new work was recently pub-
lished, and is a complete treatise
upon double-entry book-keeping, in
one and two volumes.
Part first treats of Mercantile Book-
keeping, in a plain and common-
sense manner. It contains one
hundred and s^ij^een pages, printed
upon eighty pound book paper in ■
two colors, presenting real written
pages of the Day Book, Journal, Cash
Book, Ledger, (the latter in two styles),
and also Trial and Balance Sheets.
The Book complete is specially
arranged for use in Business Colleges,,
while volume first is intended for"
Normal Schools, High Schools, Acad-
emies, and for self-instruction. The
authors claim for this work the fol-
lowing points of superiority :
1st. — That the transactions are
practical.
2d.— The student is not burdened
with a superfluous amount of theoriz-
ing.
3d. — Great care has been exerci8edt>
in the gradation of the work, and if,
is entirely free from complications.
4th. — The principles of Book-keep-
ing are ever the same, but the im-
proved methods of presenting them
characterize tliis treatise.
,h. — Each set is followed by a
plete analysis of every transac-
tion, with the reasons therefor, there-
by furnishing a key to the entire
work.
6th. — The old and new styles of
Ledgers are fully and clearly illus-
trated, with proper explanations.
7th. — There are fourteen pages of
real business writing, photo-engraved
from copies prepared by H. C. Clar^ '.
and is a superior method of presenW
ing the Day Book, Journal, Caa^*
Book, Ledger, Trial Balance, Etc., to
the delight and profit of the student- •
8th. — The forms of books hereiix
illustrated are such as to present the*
most economical and labor-saving
plan for a book-keeper to follow; in
short, complications are reduced to a
minimum.
-This work is not intended aa
a mere book of reference, but is a
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
desirable treatise upon a most im-
portant subject, of which every pei-son,
irrespective of his position, trade, or
calling, should have a full and com-
plete knowledge.
10th. — This treatise is published in
twn parts, with :i view to its better
adaptation to tin- needs of all classes
Vohmie second is now ready, which
is a clear and comprehensive treatise
on Corporation Hook-keeping. Tlie
work, as a whole, is probably tlie best
and cheapest treatise of double-entry
hook-keeping jniblished. or at least it
is the latest, and eoUoges or schools
desiring to adopt a work that is
specially adapted to their needs,
should see a cojiy of this book. The
foUowint; testiiimnial was chpped
from a recent issue of The Bvffulo
Commercial Advertiser, and is only one
from among many others commend-
ing the work ;
"We cheerfully commend a new
and comprehensive text book on
})ook-keeping by I'rof H. C. Clark,
of Clark's Colleges, Huflalo, K.Y., and
Erie Pcnn., which is destined, in the
opinion of the best accountants and
business men, to supercede all other
works of the kind, and to become the
] LESSON IN PRACTICAL PENMANSHIP.
BY H. C. CLAHK.
If there is oue branch of education
more than another that is crying ont
for better methods and improvements in
teaching, it is the subject of prac-
tical pentnaiii!iliip The lessons upon
this subject in previous numbers of
The American Penmas, were such as
to bring out many hearty commenda-
tions, not on account of tbeir great
length, but because they were practical
and plain. The student has been told
that if he lacks proper discipline in
movemeats— particularly the muscular—
he can not make much, if any. progress,
which is quite true; but there are other
mattei-8 of great interest to the student
of penmanship, and he would naturally
say to himself, "I have practiced these
plaguy movement exercises until I am
fully convinced that I can not master
them,'' and thus he toils day after day,
night after night, without noticing any
apparent change for the better. Well,
what shall he doV He may stop practic-
ing and then he will see a change, a hor-
rible one too perhaps. He must go ahead.
He must take new courage and push
ahead. The obstacles are almost insur-
mountable, but he must climb, and now
you watch him as he enters anew the
race to win. He begins to gather about
him different books and papers treating
80 every fine penman can testify, but
there is a plainer straightforward course
to pursue, and if followed success is as-
sured. We shall now invite the readers
attention to the first lesson in Practical
Penmanship published in Thk Ameri-
can Penman, and if you will take the
clause where the position of the hand
and pen is explained, you will read
and see what is needed of you as a stud-
ent of penmanship.
The proper position is the easiest and
most natural one that the writer can
The position at the desk should always
be a healthy and desirable one, we gen-
erally recommend the front position,
as the writer is lees liable to throw the
weight of his body on the right arm,
which should always be perfectly free.
As regards movement, we are inclined to
favor the whole-arm movement, for the
use of the student on taking his first
lesson in writing. The movement con-
sists in carrying the arm above the
table, independent of any rest, except
the hand resting lightly on the nails of
the third and fourth fingers, the action
Lapaybttf., Tnd.. March 33, 1886.
Prqf. H. a Clark.
Dear Sir— In the last issue of The
American Penman I gave a few hints
regarding movement, and promised to
continue the lesson, but with your per-
mission I beg leave to call the attention
of those interested in learning to write
a good, free, legible hand, to a few im-
portant facts. Many young penmen
think that a good handwriting consists
of a combination of flourishing, dashing
and slashing, including all the back-
action combinations that can be invent-
ed. I have received several calls from
young penmen during the year, and in
every case when they took up the pen
to show a specunen of their penmanship,
they started otT with either a bird or
some such character as I have men-
tioned.
Any good business man would be so
thoroughly disgusted with such a dis-
play that he would not have the young
man in his employ. I have also no-
ticed that these extreme flourishers were
very deficient when it came to a plain
practical handwriting. I think many
teachers encourage too much of this
spread eagle work, and in order for the
teacher of penmanship to be recognized
by the business men as a public bene-
factor, he must get down nearer to a
common-sense basis and produce prac-
tical results. I should be pleased to
hear from any of the fraternity on this
subject.
Very Respectfully,
C. M. Robinson.
//..,„.,..,., I,.,. /:..., /
V/,./r^^y_ ,^,^^..,.^ ,'.,,2/1^^^/^^-,,^
^^/7^:£^......,-.
shindard of authority in practical
instruction on that subject. The first
volume of lUi i)ages is printed on
the finest heavy-weight tinted paper,
and is handsomely bound in richly
embossed cloth cover. The work
complete will be published in two
volumes, neatly printed in two colors,
upon HO jjound book paper, present-
ing real written pages of the Day
Book, Cash Book, and Ledger, the
latter in two styles. Volume first
contains one hundred and twelve
printed pages, treats of Mercantile
Book-keeping, elucidates the principle
of double-entry in a practical and
common sense manner, and presents
a large number of commercial terms
and words, carefully defined, which
are indispensable to every student of
accounts. This is a standard work
and ought to be carefully studied by
those who desire to be careful ac-
countants."
Colleges and schools intending to
introduce book-keeping, or to make a
change in text books, are cordially
invited to write for further particu-
lai-s. Address,
Clauk &. Jojixsox,
Erie,Pa..orBuf1hlo. X. Y.
upon the subject of writing. He tries
his pen and tests his ink to see if it is
black and flowing. He examines the
paper, for possibly there is the fault,
and so he continues to scrutinize every-
thing about him, to see if everything is
right. A new thought has come to him,
one that he is disposed to ignore, but
no, there is something whispering to
him "Watch your position, watch your
position " and so he begins to wonder
what it all means, and at last he finds
that he was pinching the pen holder. He
was using the finger movement part of
the time and something else, be does
not know what, the rest of the time.
His attitude at the table is anything
but good, and he is about ready
to give up, when he is prompted again
with that mysterious whispering, "push
ahead" "push ahead" and does push,
even if the table and everything on it
go with liiin, he is bound to push.
But now, dear reader, while you are
striving to master a good hand, do not
get discouraged. It is always the dark-
est just before day. and you are just as
certain to win as you are to work on.
There is no royal road to good writing.
coming from the shoulder. I am well
aware, that many professional teachers
object to the whole-arm movement ir
any form, for the student's use. Bui
from several years' experience in teach
ing, I am convinced that a student will
master the fore-arm movement much
(luicker, if he first become acquainted
with the whole-arm movement, before
attempting to use any other. The fol-
lowing exercises I would commend to
the use of the student for thorough and
careful practice with the whole-
movement, and to use thesai
in connection with the fore-
ment, which was explained in a former
issue of The American Penman. I
consider it advisable for the student to
spend a greater part of his time in
study, as there can be no lasting results
without it, as practice alone is insuffi-
cient to create good writing, which must
combine legibility and rapidity as the
most important elements. The small
letters should receive careful attention
at the hands of the student before
spending very nmch time with capitals,
as good writing is estimated from the
coiTectness and fine appearance of the
small letters, more than in the use of
capital letters. Diligent practice and
study must be combined, in order to
insure good results.
T RY IT .
Could I write, with ink unfading.
One brief code for youths and men;
Could I show its all-pervading
Power in progress, I would pen, —
Try it.
Magic words these, born in heaven;
Down by thoughtful angels hurled;
Slighted, man to doom is driven;
Heeded, they give man the world; —
Try it.
Luck is Judgment wed to Labor;
Pluck, the handmaid of Succe-s;
Toil to Truth should be a neighbor;
Honor brings her own redress; —
Try it.
Starry orbs yet call the student ;
Earth's past age b still unread;
Nations seek- the wise, the prudent;
Throngs and armies must be led; —
Try it.
How did Watt to steam give morion?
Locke, trace purposes of n-ind?
How Columbus cross the ocean?
How did Luther change mankind?—
They tried it.
How did Homer write his epic?
How did Scott compose his lays?
How did Mendelssohn, his music?
How did Shakespeare write his play^?-
They tried it.
Thus it was, will be forever;
If '■ To be " man has in view,
Man must live with firm endeavor
Well to think, then plan, then do;—
Try it.
— T. C. yudkint.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
EARLY ENGLISH PENMEN.
JOHN CLARK.
[Speclaliy prepareO forTHB Aubkican Tbhuan i>j
W. a. Loibrop, of SoQth Boston, .Miiss.)
This is one of our British worthies,
who took greflt pains to hiiprove that
useful brunch of learning, true and natu-
ral writing, lu the year 1708 he pub-
lished his "Penman's Diversion," in the
nseful hands of Great Britain, in a free
and natural manner. He was then in
his twenty-fifth year. It contains twenty
plates, engraved by George Biokhaiu.
Anno Domini 1712 he published a sec-
ond entitled "Writing Improved, or Pen-
manship Made Easy in its Useful and
Ornamental Parts, with Various Exam-
ples of all the Hands now Practiced in
Great Britain." It is a very useful book,
and has been well received by the pub-
lic. It t'onsists of thirty-one oblong foUo
plates, with his picture in the front, and
is dedicated, in the edition of 1714, to Sir
Samuel Stanier, then Lord Mayor of
London. In the letter press work before
it, there is a preface; an introduction to
the art of writing; and an epistle of the
engraver, George Bickham, to the read-
Our author also has three jilates dated
1713, in George Bickham's J^nmian's
Companion. About the year 1714 there
arose a dispute (occasioned by their dif-
ference of opinion about standard rules)
between huu and Mr. Charles Snell, both
excellent masters of the pen; which was
supported. I am sorry to say it, with
too much heat and animosity. But
as I shall have occasion to mention
that disagreeable affair under Mr. Snell's
account. I shall drop it here, and only
observe how pleasant a thing it is
to see great proficiency in any art or
science, mutually assist each other, con-
nected together by the bands of friend-
ship, and an obliging behavior.
According to his son: Mi^ Clark was
born in the year 1683, at Rotherhith;
liis father had command of a Guinea-
man, which, in his last voyage, was lost
upon tlje Goodwin sands. His grand-
father was captain of a man of war in
King Charles the II's reign, and for
bravery was honored with knighthood
and the hand and anchor given lum for
his crest, which appears under Mr.
Clark's picture prefixed to his "Writing
Improved,^ or Penmanship Made Easy."
Of this work 10,000 books were disposed
of, and the plates were quite worn out.
His last work was "Lectures on Ac-
counts, or Book-keeping after the Ital-
ian method, by Double Entry of Debtor
and Creditor," published in the year
7U2.
Hediedintbe
r 1736, in his ,J3d year,
Hillingdon church
OPINIONS OF PROMINENT MEN.
Work for the highest and best meas-
ures, but when there is no moral ques-
tion involved, do not, by insisting on the
unattainable, lose everythhig. The polit-
tical history of the English race is a his-
tory of compromises. The greatest
achievement in institutions and govern-
ments of modern thues is the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and it was a
tissue of compromises. Compromises,
when they are not compi-juiises with
eternal wrong, as in the case of slavery,
have been steppmg stones in the great
advjuice of our civilization. Get the
best you can, make the most of it you
can, push on at once for something bet-
ter.— V/ch/-^/ Cabot Lodge.
Society is a compromise — a compact —
in which indixiduals surrender portions
of their interest for the sake of the ben-
efits inuring to them and the whole
body of members. So general rules are
established. All general rules work
harshly or inconveniently in particular
cases. But they are defensible on the
ground of the greatest good to the great-
est number, and are deWsed and estab-
lished on tliis theory. Hence it comes,
and rightly comes, that a State is not
bound to place and wear a blister on
the face of its civilization and integrity
because one person or six persons can
be found who would make gain from
the State's humiliation. The law exe-
cutes criminals and puts them away in
a prison, when not only their creditors
but their families would prosper by hav-
ing them at large plying their vocation
and their franchises, if they had any.
Such are the fatalities of grovernment
and of civilization —Moacoe Conktinff.
Human nature in Great Britain differs
little from human nature in Ireland.
The Irish peasant has struggled within
the last seven years for a vindication
of three great principles, which are now
beginning to be fully appreciated by the
English, Scotch and Welsh, namely, the
natural right of the people to the soil,
the inviolability of the homestead, and
the assertion of true economic hberty in
the domain of industry. In fighting the
cause of the land for the people, in re-
sisting eviction, and in rebelling against
imposition by a class of a rent tax upon
the fruits of labor, the mahgned, half-
starved Irish peasant has not only shaken
the shackles of landlordism from off his
own limbs, but he has half broken the
links of the agricultural slaves in Great
Britain as v/e\\.— Michael Damtt.
It has been said, almost too often, that
during the past few years the colleges
have been making great advances, that
they have been raising new standards,
that new methods of discipline have
come in, and new methods of teaching.
The college age has been rising, so that
at least a year of study— and I sometimes
think almost two years of study— has
been thrown back upon the secondary
schools, which formally the colleges cared
for. A man must go to college better
prepared than he was in the forties and
the earUer sixties. He must go with a
distinct moral purpose, with a better
training as to his will, his fancies, his
imagination, as well as in all those intel-
lectual pursuits which have absorbed
so far the forces of his Tama.—Principal
Bancroft^ of Philtipa Academy.
HER FIRST SPECULATION.
A verdant housewife, fresh from her
rural home, came to the city to pur-
chase various household necessities.
She glanced timidly about her, and was
evidently confused by the countless
shops which took the place of the vil-
lage accomodation store. There was a
bucket-shop near by, with the usual
sign over the door, " Stocks, Grain, and
Oil," She read the words, and entered
the place. "I want to buy some oil,"
she said. The proprietor gave her a 1-
per-cent. margin smile, and winked at
the telegraph operator to get some Oil
City quotations. "I— I — want to buy a
great deal." The bucket-shop man won-
dered if his safe would hold all the mar-
gin money. " I can buy 60,000 barrels
for you madam," he said. "I don't want
as much as that.'* " Or 10,000 barrels-"
"1 don't want as much as that." "Or
even 1,000 barrels. The charges for car-
rying it will be—" " Oh," she exclaimed,
"the traui stops just beyond our farm,
and if you'll put me up a gallon I'll carry
it myself," She was shown the corner
grocery without unnecessary courtesy
or deUberation.— 2Vd-627s
Subscribe for The A
SAM JONES TO THE GIRLS.
He Tells Them to Watch Their Company,
and Beware of Spiderlegged Dudes.
Ch1c.\G0, March 20.— Sam .Tonesclosed
his labors for the week with a sermon to
girls only. There were over 4,500 pres-
nt. Among other things, Mr. Jones
Girls, watch your company. An
angel from heaven could not keep
some company that girls do in Chicago
and not be corrupt. Pure, noble girls
stand alone on this earth for beauty and
glory. Boys go in bad company, but
the hope of this land is in its pure girls.
Oh, be vigilant ; guard your parlor. Be-
ware with whom and how you go to en-
tertainments. The best way to go is not
to go at all."
Mr, Jones then indulged in a long des-
cription and denunciation of the per-
fumed young man. He also described a
chase of young ladies after a spider-
legged dude,
" Tell me what your associations are,
young lady," he continued, "and I will
give you a glimpse of your history. Is
he an exquisite dancer ? Does he wear
perfect pants ! Is his hair parted ele-
gantly in the middle? Does he clerk in
a big establishment at $00 a month and
spend $40 dollars a month for board, $30
a month for carriage hhe, and $20 a
month for theatres ? Does he convince
you that he has not a stingy bone in his
body ? Do you think he is ' just nice ' ?
Where does he get his money ?
I am in love with these wool-hat and
jean-pants boys. He starts at $30 a
month, sticks to business and the wool-
hat till he gets a thousand a year ; then
he gets to be junior partner, then senior
partner, and finally ownsthe whole block
where he does business. You styhsh
girls do not hke him. Well, he likes you
just about as well, -for when he wanted
a wife he went back to his country home
and married plain Mary, and for a few
years it was love in a cottage, and
now he has a residence on Michigan
Avenue. Girls, tie to these wool-hat
boys, and they will take care of you.
"A beautiful girl of this city," he said,
"arranged to attend a wine supper last
week. When night came she sent word,
saying, ' I can't go ; my heart has been
touched at the meetings.' Now she has
brought three of her associates here with
her. What do you want of wine sup-
pers ? Oh, mothers, no matter what
the devil may owe you, if he sends you
about thi'ee drunken sons-in-law he will
have paid the debt, and you will receipt
in full. Then, girls, watch your tempers.
If a girl is ugly to her mother she will
make it warm in her own home, if she
ever has one.
All the girls who talked ugly or saucy
to mothers were asked to stand up.
There was no uprising, not one,
"Mothers," he added, " overhaul your
libraries. A young girl once said she
was terribly bored by reading the Bible,
The poor, silly, sap-headed thing ! "Some
mothers fix their daughters to be damned.
They insist on having Uttle parties for
their children. A little party is a big
party in short clothes. Then comes the
big party, and then the hugging ger-
man, I want to have the grass growing
on my grave when my daughters are
attending germans. After the Ger-
man, then what V 1 will not go further.
Take the words of a profound priest,
who says that at his confessional nine-
teen out of twenty young women who
had strayed ascribed their fall from pur-
ity and virtue to the influences of the
ball-room."
A GOOD handwriting is used by
many as the " stepping stone " to suc-
cess.
A CASE OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY.
Probably there isn't on record a clearer
case of total juvenile depravity than this
Little Phyllis J., a girl of five very er-
ratic summers, was behaving in a par-
ticularly obstreperous manner the other
evening. Nothing oould induce her to
calm down and be a good girl.
"Now, Phyllis, I think tliere is notlt
ing that will make you good except fe^
say your prayer. I want you to oon^B
with me into the library and kneel don^T
and say your prayer, and then I'm BUiwf
you will be a better girl."
She allowed herself to be led into the
room and, sure enough, knelt down
cahnly and said her prayer with sweet-
ness and humility, closing it thus aa
" Dear Lord, please bless my papft
and my mamma : bless me and make m^
a good girl— Amen."
And then jumping up and stamping
her foot violently :
"There, mamma, you got left that -
time ! " — Boston Record.
"Knowledge is power. • * Knowl-
edge is worth having, and therefore
worth seeking. • * We speak of the
utility, of course, of real knowledge,
which is knowledge that is yours and is
available. Real knowledge is useful
every way. Looked at in its coinmerolal
value the worth of it passes figures, for
the man who has a particular knowledg©
wanted in a particular exigency, obtains
almost any terms he has the faoe to
The true teacher joins his soul to
those of his pupils. He infuses into
them his own enthusiasm. The growing
pupil is the one who thinks, and not the
one who simply remembers. This ac-
counts for so many bright boys amoimt-
ing to nothing as men. Brightness ^^^
dullness aa a standard in school la a
false one.— iZcu. Dr. Crosbu.
Sir William Hamilton said: "Tha
highest end of education is not to dlo-
tate truth, but to stimulate exertloOi
since mind isnot invigorated, developed,
in a word, educated by the mere p088e»-
sion of truths, but by the energy deter-
mined in their (juest and contempla-
OZW7" TVA/VJ' ^amCS3 /W Q^e OOiiA/i^
VOLUME FIRST
if tlie Trt^atiae is now ready for the public. It OonttlM '
IG beautifully prl&l«d [Mgc«, iipoD elght;-pouad bodt
luok. Journal, Ciuh Book Ledger, eto., ia reftl BullMi
VrltlDg, pUoto-eDgniTod from cuplea [ireiinriMl by &:&
it if JuHl audi B book M eveiT Butlnew OolluL
Lcadomy, High School, or Solf-Loaroeribould bftTfTOfl
ftvorablu tormii will be offered educational iDiUtotfOn
dopttDg It.
*ipt of ONE DOLLAR.
CLARK & JOHNSON,
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
50 LESSONS $1.50.
Continued inguiry with regard to "In-
struction by Mail" has induced me to
prepare
A Course of 50 Lessons in
Writing
(All copies trosti from tbe pen),
— AND—
A Course of 50 Lessons in
Flourishing.
f KXKBOISES, I
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■ of F*i
rcUMiWholf--
ALPBABKrS, Word CoplM, Sentonco Oopli
r Fancy Ca[>iMlB. Mosculsr CombI
O^copiM are 'all" DIRECT FROM kT OWN
nlm to cover (be wLoIoraage of pl&ia and
rPBrNTED'"liisTR'uCTl6N8, w
■ - MOVEM
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lent Id ooe package by mall, poilpald, I
03VL.Y S1*I30.
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ALL FKE3H FROM THE PEN. r»-AI
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oCounM la odo order, $3.00.
I^Three Beautiful Specin
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K K. ISAACS,
Penman N, I. N. Schools, Valpara\
Twelt'tli Edition Now Ready.
Class-Sooii of CoMrcial-Law
SCHOOL AND COUNTING ROOM,
A Plain, Practical Explanation of the Laws
Business,
DKSIGNSD
Especially for Class or Private In-
struction,
By C. E. CARHART,
President of the Albany Busineaa College
Used in all the leading colleges and
schools throughout the United States
and Canadas.
Singrle Oopieei, 9 1 .OO.
For circulars or specimen copies, ad-
C. E. CARHART,
Albany Business College, Albanjj, N. Y.
CLARK'S BUSINESS COLLEGES,
:e:I3IE:, JF.^^., and. '^,TJ-^-:E'j£iJI-.0, 1<T. "ST.
H. C. CLARK.
C.U.JOHNSON,
CLARK & JOHNSON.
President.
Secretary.
Proprietors.
W. H. Slocura's School of Stenography is now associated with these Colleges.
^ ^GOOD PENMANSHIP.
EI«gontlv ^nrlrted bird, 20 cents,
Flonriibed swad, 26 waU.
Oopy liDue, pir dOB( d, 30 <
D. H. SNOKE.
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^ GRAND WmjOR PENMEN.
Penmen who desire fii-st-class ink and
wish to have it fresh and reliahle, can
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cents and addressing
Prop. H. Russell.
Drawer 8,175, Joliet, 111.
The Coal and Iron Exchange Building, Bujj\.i
'Cs Bu
J College IS located.
The course of'study embraces the most thorough and complete theoretical and actual business training in the world.
Scholarships good in either College. Students may enter at any time with equal advantttKes.
LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, good in either College, entitling the holder to all the advanta*;es of the Commercial Course, and
of reviewing at any future time, costs only $50.
Good board can be had in either Erie or Buffalo at $3.60 per week.
Students enter into actual business practice as conducted between the two cities, aflfording advantages not approached
by any other Business College. It will pay young men and women to attend either of these Colleges, as equal advantages
are to be had in each school.
The Institutions are in direct communication with the leading business men in all parts of the country, and students
helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difficulty in securing honorable and
lucrative employment.
The Faculty are gentleuien of well-known ability and experience, and the proprieto
mation to those interested, upon application, either in person or by letter.
'ill be pleased to furnish infor-
CLARK & JOHNSON,
Erie, I=a., or B-u,£falo, iT. "S".
BOOTS ^ SHOES.
GENSHEIMER&BROWNI,
1715 Stale Street,
•mi iMd In the Boot •nd Shof lr»de. W,»r( .bowiogthe
largMi and roost wjropltte iwcnmrnt of
AND RUBBER GOODS,
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The besit selected stock of
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Prominent amone
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[. EDOB, 12 different style* S .
100 New Slipper Cards In our new HdU, jmIouI 50
200 Gold Edge concaTe, ronnd. cllpp«i comers 35
500 E«tr» Wedding Crwun White Tinted C»rds_ 90
100 Bsck.Wlne and Blue Carda, very floe, only 30
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BEAD—Bav* cUartd %lOinS dayi' Urn*, have outy tutd a
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J. F. SHARP, Editor and Proprietor.
OSEKUH COLLEGEx'Depirtne&t of Fesaudiip.
a Teachers- Court* (12 weeks) for $2S.OO j
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iiiEXCLVSlVELYA SCHOOL OF PESMASSVIP^ \
Addve
man ia (As ODuatry, and I eojuU^r him A» fintti ptnmoM of JUt
agt bi tAs world. Bi* pmmanthip it ortiaftol/jf psi/sd"—
WWIth etory i pack.g,, ordered at one time an ritt.
package of Ont Bevel Edge Cards will b» .r- • tt)^ wlili
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Address Lines-Extra 20 .M
CSNTBAL. PEN HOLDEH.
Qem City Jluaincss Collefje, Qulney, Xil.
s T .&. F F =
Rev. C.W. Burnley. Prof. J. F. Davis.
Prof. Howard H. Dernell. Prof. J. M. Black.
Warren C. Dickson. Mr. H. Simmons.
A Piial'Olass Jeamal,
TAe OepaiUaeau,
P£.V.\fA.VS/i/P,
FINJl ARTS.
COMPOSITJONS AMD ESSAYS,
CORKESPOXnENCE.
TEMPERANCE.
Y. M. C. A.
ILLUSTRATIONS AND PORTRAITS.
ROLL OE HONOR
0/ Mtritorious Pupils in the Difftrtnt Gratlei.
Bijjgraphit! of Distinguiihed Scholars.
Togtihir with Short Stories of Natural History
Sketches of Real Life. Anecdotes. Poems. Games.
Queries and Items of General Interest.
PRACTICAL SHORT HAND,
Or Seven Simple Principles.
•'Swift as Speech, Plain as Print, Easy as A B C
IN FOUR WEEKS, by mall, 2 faours a day, or 4t
E. J. MARCH, Prea. Scio College. Scio. 0.
The ctimplag oftho Ssgen b; eontisaong writk^, isdwUeblS
CAUSED BT COHTIiniAI.LT OEADHIIO APTSS THE POWT etOl
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n'RITrUrV LETTER.
§An uitAarpautd »pectm»n of bold biuiiutf writing uilhtlXlp
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mealoanla Z atA
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'^eTlCAL 4ND^^ ,^j,^,lENT4L ?ENM4mHlP^
ESTERBD Al THE POST-OPflCB AT ERIE, PA., AS SBCOXD-CLASS MATTEll.
H. C. CLARK, Editor.
S. A. DRAKE. Associate Editor.
CLARK & JOHNSON, Proprietors.
ERIE, PA., and BUFFALO, N. Y., MAY, 1886. Vol. l— No. 5.
Remember the offer made in the
A]tril number remains good until
further notice. Subscribe now.
W. W. Bennett, of Cleveland. 0.,
challenges any penman in America to
a contest in sldll with the pen. Who
will accept?
The lesson in penmanship in this
issue is an exceptionally good one by
Prof. C. G. Prince, penman in Clark's
But^iness College, Buffalo. N. Y. Mr.
Prince is a live teacher, and his writ-
ing compares favorably with the best
in the pr
The Xew Standard Practical Pen-
manship recently issued by the Spencer
Bros., Washington, D. C, is an excel-
lent work in every respect. The style
is simple, practical and artistic. The
gradation U most judicious and care-
ful, and the plates reach the climax
of the engraver's skill.
The value and importance of a good
hiuul writing can not be over estimat-
ed, and if any of our readers are so
unft.irtunate as to not possess the
ability to write easily and gracefully,
we desire to console them by saying
tliat it is possible under the tuition of
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We desire to boom the American
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favorably before the public, and
esjieoially to all those interested in
the chiragraphic art. The future
numbei'S are to be unusually good in
every respect.
Clark's Progressive Bookkeeping
is meeting with general favor, and a
large number of business colleges
academies, high schools, etc.. are
adopting tlie work. It is published
complete in one and two volumeS;
and patrons can be accommodated in
either style ofbindhig. Either volume
sent to address post paid for one
cators. and whose reputation for doing I
everything well and at the proper
time, has placed him so conspicuously
iind favorably before the public. Of
course every business educator will
attend the convention,
The special offer published in the
April number will be extended until
farther notice. Therefore if any one
should get a copy of the American
Penman who is not a subscriber, he
will know that we are anxious to re-
ceive his subscription, and if one
dollar is enclosed wc will mail post
paid volume first of Clark's Pro-
gressive Bookkeeping and the Ameri-
Penman for one year. Now is
the time to subscribe.
The Spencerian Business College,
Washington, D. C. which is ably pre-
sided over by Mr. and Mrs. H. C.
Spencer, recently celebrated itsjinnual
commencement exercises in Albaugh's
Opera House in a most fitting man-
ner. U. S. Senator Voorhees, of
Indiana, delivered the principal ad-
dress, which was a masterly effort.
The American Penman extends con-
gratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Spencer
upon the deserved iJ0i)ular)ty of thuir
institution.
awakening on the subject of writing,
and a desire of the public in general
to discover the causes of the ill-suc-
cess in teaching this important branch.
It is certainly to be hoped that the
growing interest in this subject will
esult in the removal of many of the
vils that now encumber the art of
writing.
If teachers of penmanship would
put forth as much energy and ability,
bring to this field of labor qualifi-
cations, culture and refinement etiual
to those employed in other arts and
professions, there would be a revo-
lution in public sentiment regarding
penmanship; it would be at once
placed in the foreground of the arts,
for in point of general utility and
possibilities of artistic effect it sur-
passes all others.
The general estimate of the import-
tance of writing is influenced in a
great degree by the cliaracter of the
teacher and advocates of the art, and
if these be persons of culture, educa-
tion and ability, they can easily enlist
and maintain the interest of all for
themselves and their profession.
The next number will contain some
beautiful specimens of business writ-
ing, a lesson in penmanship, points of
interest concerning the coming con-
vention of Business Educators, bio-
grajihical sketch of one of our leading
penman, editorial comments, etc.
Do not miss seeing the June num-
ber, and if you are a subscriber invite
your friends tosubscribe. Remember
the paper will be maileil for one year
to all those who subscribe before July
1st for fifty cents, or with a copy of
vol. 1st of Clark's Progressive Book-
keeping for one dollar.
From the various explanations of
"Why teachera of penmanship fail?"
that have appeared in the penmen's
papers from time to time, we may in-
fer that'there is quite a general recog-
nition of the fact that teachers of pen
dollar, or the complete work for two manship, as a class, do not meet with
dollars. the success in the advancement of
good writing that wc might reasonably
expect from the numbers who follow
the profession and the zeal and de-
votion to their calling that they
usually display.
We may also infer that there is an
The attention of our readere is in-
vited to the able and interesting
article whicli appears in this number
from the pen of Prof. S. S. Packard,
cue of the leading commercial edu-
Among the letters received at the
office of the American Penman those
from tlie following persons deserve
special mention on account of the
elegance of the writing:
C. H. Klausman, Minneapolis,
Minn.
H. Oliver Boyd, Manheim, Pa.
S. A. Wyatt, Jackson, Mist^.
S, L. Caldwell, Jackson, Mo.
John T. Perry, Rockwood, 111.
J. W. EUis, St. Joseph. Mo.
O. A. Freemyer, Hossick FallSj
N. Y.
J. H. Cottle, Fort Totten, Dak.
James Connolly, Cleveland, 0.
The following creditable papers
have been received at the office of
The American Penman:
Pen)nan^s Art Journal, New York.
Penman^s Gazette, New York.
Western Penman, Cedar Rapids, la.
Lone Star Penman, Dallas, Tex.
St. Ckarles College Gazette, St. Charles,
Mo.
The Btisinecd Worlds Detroit, Mich.
The School Balletin, Syracuse, N. Y.
Easiness University Journal, Indian-
apolis, Ind.
The Business School Register, Wyan-
dotte, Kansas.
InterruUional Business Colkge Journal,
Altoona, Pa.
The School Visitor, Madison, Wis.
Eastman College Journal, Pough-
keepsie, N. Y.
Scholars Portfolio, Wiliiamsport, Pa.
Youth's Pilot, San Antonio, Texas.
The Rochester Cominercial Review,
Rochester, N. Y.
WHY PENMAN FAIL.
During my few years of work la the
field of pennianBliip I have met many
penmen (in the itinerant rank) and suc-
cess perched upon the banner of but
few. What are the causes of their ill-
success? I deem them to be in the main
carelessness, negligence, lack of iuterest
and lack of energy, because they do not
intend to follow teaching and are only
using it as a stepping stone. They fol-
low tlie old beaten paths and fail to
keep abreast with the age. Now these
failing penmen cry out against the
public and say their labors are not
appreciated. But as a general thing
their work is placed far above its
genuine value.
There are some who love the work and
yet do not meet with the success they
had hoped for. To those I would say',
discard the old false notions and fill up
the- vacancies with those of more modern
times. Discard the use of copy books
and the black board. Give your class
individual instruction, and a little more
movement; point out the faults in every
part of the work, and show how they
may be corrected.
Encourage your students, stimulate
them and urge them forward.
And above all don't let the prefer-
en :es of the class influence you; but
select the work for them and see that
they execute it to the best of their
abihty.
If the work goes wrong keep up a
chet-i'ful countenance and persevere.
The success I have enjoyed during
several years teaching has been in a
great measure due to individual in-
struction and the attention given to
movement.
Brother Itinerant, wake up; soon we
must fill the places, now occupied by
the professionals; therefore, "let us be
up and doing," that we may take up
the work where they leave off and push
it forward nearer completion.
E. A. McPhkrson,
April 39, 1886. Albion, Pa.
The American Penman is a com-
parative new venture with Prof. H. C.
Clark, president of Clark's Business
College. Erie Pa., at the helm. Prof.
Clark possesses the ability and enter-
prise to make a great success of his
journal, and judging from the liberal
patronage already bestowed, he will
undoubtedly come out a winner,— T/c
Lone iS'tar Penman.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
A DILEMMA.
To write, or not lo write, that is the quesdon.
Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer
The reputation of being asked by
A young lady to writ; in her autograph album,
And having kept the bonk twoyears,moreoriess,
And then not wrilten in it—
Or to take the pen against a host of doubts and
And by once writing, end them? — To start; — to
To write! — perchance, to make a blot — Ay,
there's the rub;
For in that darksome blot what feelings are
Shown forth— nervousness, distrust of self,
And many others!— Not as
When one is writing to his girl, for then
If he should make a blot, he draws a line
'Round it, and says
It was intentional, and meant lo mark
A place where he did kiss. And she
Believes the yarn, and kisses it, and thinks
That she is happy.
Boston Globe.
KOMER RUSSELL.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Bombay, Franklin County, on Septem-
ber 9, 1839, ana if* now in his forty-
seventh year. Like most of our promi
nent men, he was born upon a farm,
and by hard and patient toil when a
child received that nmscular develop-
ment which was the foundation of
excellent health and physique so neces-
sary to every person who would succeed.
Prof. Russell came from New England
stock. and is descended from theRussells
of England wlio have done so much to
make a liistorical name in English his-
tory. On his mother's side he is related
to the "Wrights, his mother being a first
cousin of Silos Wright, once Governor of
New Yprk,and for many years a United
States Senator from the Empire State,
but now long since deceased. (The
brother of the Professor. Hon. Horace
Russell, of New York City, is regarded
by all well-posted lawyers in New York
City to be one of the ablest and best
posted attorneys of New York; he served
for nearly ten years in the trying posi-
tion of Assistant District Attorney in the
city, was Judge Advocate General on
tlie staff of Governor Cornell, and served
as Judge of the Supreme Court in New
Yolk two terms. In 1878 he was married
to tlie daughter of Judge Hilton, and
lias now charge of all the law business
of Mrs. A. T. Stewart, for whom his
father-in-law is the administrator.)
Prof. Russell at an early age evinced a
marked pleasure in reading and study,
and became proficient in many branches.
He was a great lover of history, and re-
membered what he read with remarka-
ble exactness. Before he was fifteen
years old he had read all the books to
be had in tlie neighborhood, and Mr.
W. A. Wheeler, who whs then a practic-
ing lawyer, and an intimate friend of
his father, and afterwards Vice Pi-esi-
dent of the United States, made hinj a
present of some fine books, and what
wa« still better, gave him some kind
words of advice and encouragement.
There has been no greater public
benefactorof America than Ex-President
Wheeler. Born in the lowest poverty,
he knows what every young man must
encounter before he can suet
Among the books which he presented
to the subject^ of our sketch is Willard'i
Universal History, which he still has ir
his library, though it is yellow with age,
On the fly leaf is written in a neat hand,
"Homer Russell, from his friend W. A,
Wheeler, February 23, 1852.
The father of Prof. Russell was a
prosperous farmer, and upon the advicf
of Mr. Wheeler determined to give his
son a good education. His mother, who
for years had been a school teachf
Vermont, heartily seconded her
band's scheme, and to them he <
everything. He always took delight in
good penmanship. Among his first
teachers was F. C. Ellis, a veteran teach
er, who has been at the business fully
forty years; to him the Prof, owes much
for getting the right start and for many
encouraging words of advice.
In 1860 he placed himself under thi
instructions of Prof. D. T. Ames, then
Principal of the Oswego, N. Y'., Business
College, and after completing the course
he struck out as a teacher of writing.
He took a thorough academic course
and always drew around him a large
number of private students, afterwards
he made it a regular business of teach-
ing penmanship. For nearly five years
his labor was mostly in the western
states, and few, if any traveling teach-
ers ever made better successat teaching.
When he started to get up a class he set
about it with a will and energy that
knew no such word as fail. In 1866 he
heard that Joliet, 111., would be a good
place to start a Business CoUege.and his
conjecture proved to be a good one,
and his school has met with magnificent
success from the very outset. In 1868
he was married to Miss Christina
Shreffler, a daughter of a wealthy in-
ventor of Joliet. Thev have three
bright and beautiful children.
Prof. Russell has a fine home furnished
in luxurious style, a handsome library,
besides a bank account that shows that
he is a No. 1 financier. Upon the death
of his father on last September, he was
left a very fine property which, together
with his already comfortable property
that he had already acquired by his
own business sagacity and shrewdness,
it leaves him decidedly well fixed. Very
few persons possess such a variety of
talent as Prof. Russell
The readers of the PcnmarCa An Jour-
nal and a large number of other publi-
cations to which the Professor is a regu-
lar contributor, can testify that his
sound sense; his brilliancy, yet purity of
style; his sharpness of statement; his
precision of arrangement; his sharpness
of thought; scathing sarcasm; his mag-
nificient mastery of English, and his
apparent fairness and freedom from
passion, all combine to make him a
charming and interesting wi-lter. As an
orator he has few equals, and he is, to
use the language of the Joliet Bepubli-
can "the very soul of the Philosophical
Debating Society of this city, and his
speeches command the closest atten-
tion." One of the leading daily papers
of that city hos this to say of the insti-
tution over which he has presided for
the past twenty years with marked abil-
ity and success:
We liave frequently alluded to this
prosperous institution, and take this ac-
casion to speak another deserving word.
No private educational institution has
lived and prospered with this institu-
tion; for the post eighteen years it has
had uninterrupted prosperity. This is.
we believe, owing to the wisdom and
foresight of its enterprising proprietor.
Professor Russell, who has adopted a
practical course of instruction suited to
the wants of the people, and thorough-
ly understands his business and attend-
ing to it; this, together with his energy
and fine ability.are the chief elements of
his enviable success. Judge MoRoberts.
Ex. Vice President W. A. Wheeler, Ei-
State Superintendent S. M. Etter, and
every Mayor that Joliet has had since
the Joliet Business College has been in
existence, all combine in hearty coiii-
luendations of Prof. Russell."
Many teachers after spending a few
years in the business usually retire to
more congenial business, or less irksome
labor. Not so with Prof. Russell; he
has always been in love with the work
he has been teaching upwards of twen-
ty-five years, yet he seems as young and
fresh as if he had just opened his first
school. His handsome, manly face
seems to inspire every student with
whom he comes in contact with a love
for the work before him. He is receiv-
ing thousands of leters from ex-students
whom he put in a way to earn a living,
and of whom he has made good business
men by the excellent course of instruc-
tion, and the example of a pure, blame-
less life. From these letters he seems to
draw inspiration, courage and energy
for the good work before him.
In closing this sketch, perhaps a few
mottoes that Prof. Russell has adopted
for his school, would be fitting, among
which are, "Work and think,"
it battle they only prevail,
:h onward and never say fail."
"In life's e
Who daily
"A wretched, weary life is his who h
Qo work to do."
My Dear Mr. Clark:— Yon ask me to
prepare for your paper an article relat-
ing to the coming convention. I shall
be glad indeed to comply with youi
(luest in the best way, and perhaps the
best way will be to leave as nmch
possible for the imagination of your
readers. It is known to you, and to all
intelligent teachers of our specialty.that
the Business Educators' Association has,
during the past eight years, done excel-
lent work, not only in directing public
attention to our field of labor, but more
especially in inciting the teachers and
proprietors of business colleges through-
out the country to more fidelity in their
work. It is simply impossible for a
band of intelligent teachers to come to-
gether and exchange views without
exciting renewed interest, and leading
to better and more permanent results.
The tendency of the teacher is to run
into ruts and stay there. This does not
grow out of indi.sposition to labor and
investigate so much as out of the dis-
position which most of us have to ride
hobbies.
e are quite apt to think that the
work we do in our particular schools
is the best work that c»n be done, and
there is a natural tendency to repel
that kind of information which may, in
any sense, prove to us that we have not
hitherto done all that could have been
done. The skeletons that are in our
closets we do not like to have paraded
public, and neither do we like to open
the door for a private view any oftener
than necessitated to do so. The sharp
and friendly controversies which grow
out of the discussion Tof matter and
methods of teaching not only serve to
V to us individually that other peo-
ple know something as well as our-
selves, but beyond this, they open the
way for improvement, and send us back
ir work with enlarged views of the
possibilities that lie before us. There
can be no question that the business
schools of to-day are as progressive in
essential matters of education as any
schools in the land. The fact has come
to us as the result of the last thirty
years of constant effort to meet the
growing public demand that there is aa
abiding want for the best work that
can be done in training yoimg men and
women for business pursuits.
At first the prejudices and active hos-
tilities which were ext^ited in schools ot
general culture against the innoviitioa
of business colleges were placed undnr
a kind of social ban, and their work wa»
not fairly recognized and their position
in the educational field not accorded;
but as they grew in strength and united
purpose, and as the work they did
proved so efficient in placing thelt
pupils in paying positions, they soon
came to assume the position in public
esteem which tended to break down the
barriers of opposition and left to them
the field which they so justly earned,
and which they will hold so long as they
are faithful to their ideals. It is the
business of the Association, through Its
convention, to perpetuate the hold of
commercial schools upon the public, not
only by directing attention to the work,
but by so improving the work that
there can be no doubt of its efflcienoy.
The convention to be held in New York
next summer ought to be by far the best
ever held by the Association, not wholly
from the fact that it is to be held In a
metropohtan city,— for that in itseU
would be no great advantage, —but that
it has the experience of former convea-
tions. and because, also, more efBoient
help should be accessible than has
hitherto been secured. The ExeoutiTe
Committee are doing all in their powar
to promote the efflcieucy of the conven-
tion and the comfort of the attending
members; and all they need to make
their work effective is the kindly co-op-
eration of the teachers of the country.
The Busin«^ss Kdi.rators- A.ssociation
should be thf lar^'est and most practi-
cal educators' af-.sooiation in this ooim-
try. It has a definite purpose in its
work, its members are all men of praottr
cal ideas, and the hold which we already
have upon public sympathy should be
strengthened by our co-operation. As
you will see by the suggested pcOr
gramme published in the last number of
the Penman's Art Journal, the coaren-
tion is to meet at the Packard Roonw,
805 Broadway, on Wednesday. July 7th,
at one o'clock, and to conclude on the
following Wednesday. Morniags and
afternoons of each day, except the one
day set apart for recreation, are alreadj^
fully laid out by the committee. subJeA
to such changes as may seem best, and
the whole programme so arranged as to
give all parts of our work u fair chanoa,
There can be no doubt that the conveiir
tion of 1886 will be worthy the attentlott
and co-operation of all progressiva
teachers. Yours,
S. S. Packard.
"My dear," said a husband to bis wife,
"I am unable to get any sleep; I have
tossed ever since 1 came to bed; I wish
you would get up and prepare me a lit-
tle laudanum." "It's hardly worthwhile
now,"' she replied, consulting Iier watob;
"it's almost time to build the kitobea
fire." Then he sank into a iiuiet, peace-
ful slumber.
A German named Wolff,
don, has discovered a cur
cramp. The new treati
l>artly of rubbing, kneadir
and beating of the fingers
eral muscles of the hai
re are gymnastic exen
and passive; and most
all. there are graduated
writing, with a clew of catling into pla^
new set of muscles in lieu of those tiX'
jured by the crump.
1 Loi^
vritert
onslsts
tching,
iiportantof
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
LESSON IN FLOURISHING.
BV B. K. ISAACS.
To learn flourishing is not as difficult
a^i many suppose. It is easier than
writing, froui the fact that the strokes
used in flourishing are nearly all ex-
tended curves or good sized ovals, and
do not r»*quire so much skill and nim-
bleness in their mauipulatiun as does
the multitude of small curves and
straight lines in writing.
Use a straight holder and your favor-
ite pen, good paper and good black ink.
In flourishing, as in writing, there are
certain forms or lines that occur very
frecjviently— are common to nearly all
designs. These forms or lines may be
called Principles. Again, these forms
or principles repeated with a continuous
movement, and without lifting the pen,
constitute Exercises, the same as princi-
ples or letters repeated with a continu-
ous movement and without lifting the
pen, constitute exercises in writing.
These principles and exercises must
sign, you are developing skill which will
help you in all otlier designs. Besides,
if the model is a good one, you are un-
consciously cultivating your eye for
harmony and beauty, which will lead
you eventually into artistic regions yet
unexplored, and lo, you have made a
new design! That's right, go ahead.
Every earnest effort you make will bear
its fruit, although it may not seem very
fruitful at the time.
I have already repeated several times
to study your model carefully. I have
done so, because you must learn to see,
before you can learn to do. It is
strange how the learner will bang away,
line after line, repeating the same blun-
der over and over again, and then say
that he can't get it; there is something
the matter with it, but he don't know
what it is. Before you exclaim that
you "can't get it," ascertain whether it
is a fault of the head or of the hand.
Analyze, criticise, compare. Then prac-
tice energetically.
This lesson is not intended to exhaust
In this way you will soon get familiar
with the different units composing the
Don't fail to send in your subscription
to the American Pknman, if you have
not already done so.
RICHARD GETHINC.
This curious penman deserves our
highest commendations I am sorry
that I can actjuaint my readers with so
few circumstances concerning him On
account of his early productions from
the rolling press, he may stand in com-
petition with Bales, Davies and Billings-
ley, those heads and fathers of, as I
may call them, of our English calli-
grapic tribe. Anthony Wood, in his
"Athenae Oxonienses," says: "That this
Richard Gething was John Davies, of
Hereford's countryman, and scholar,
who excelled his master in various writ-
ing, as secretary, Roman, (Italian) court,
and text hands."
Mr. Getbing, leaving Herefordshire,
came up to London, (but in what year I
"What vent'iou* pen may here presume to wrile,
Or active fancy, to express his praise.
A quill from Pcgasu?, will be loo slighi.
His flourishcT arc fresher than our bays
Then, what the Muses cannot give his faire
The Graces shall supply to Gelhing's name.
In 1652 his Calligraphotechnia was
made public from the rolling press. The
engravers' names are not mentioned. It
contains 36 folio plates, besides his
picture at the begitining.
He is drawn with a peeked beard, and
in a ruff. Around his effigies is this
inscription: "Richardus Gethinge, Here-
fordiensis aet. 33. This seems to be a
later edition of that work, which pro-
bably was enlarged from his first book,
published in 1616, for there are some
plates in it dated 1616-1616.
There is in the second leaf a dedicor
tion to his very good master (as be there
styles him). Sir Francis Bacon, Knt.
Now this great man, Sir Francis Bacon,
be studied and practiced, until the hand
acquires skill and nimbleness. But in
practicing exercises, you can enter into
it with a better spirit if you can see the
relation between the exercise and the
work that is to follow. Hence, it is
(ki^irable to have a collection of designs
to study and catch inspiration from as
you go along.
After giving a reasonable amount of
practice to the principles and exercises
of flourishing, try some situpie design.
Suppose it be a quill design. Notice
carefully the curve of the main stem,
and the location of the shade. Notice
carefully every line and stroke in the
design you may be imitating.
Suppose it be a bird design. Begin
witli the wing strokes Notice carefully
then- relative positions. Fill page after
page with the wing stiokes until you
1,'et some satisfaction out of them. Then
the head, bill, and breast strokes, re-
spectively. Drill on each, studying
your model carefully as you go along.
Then the tail; then the scroll work
around. In this way you get thorough-
ly familiar with that one design; but
remember that in learning this one de-
the subject of flourishing. To do that
I should want every inch of space in
the AuBRiCAN Pknman during a year
or more. A single brief lesson can do
nothing more than offer a few sugges-
tions—give a few points— but, after all,
H suggestion at the right time is capable
of d'ling luuch good. I would suggest
further that you secure good models to
imitate, either fresh from the pen of
some good penman, or some work on
Flourishing.
The design which I present herewith
is not exactly suited for a very beginner,
yet if you understand how to work, you
will And in this design ample material
for several weeks" practice.
Search out the different main strokes
first, such as the three wing strokes, the
tail strokes, the scroll strokes below,
and the quill strokes at the right.
Practice each of these strokes singly,
fill page after page, until you gain a
remarkable degree of skill in making
each individual stroke by Itself. Then
take certain groups of strokes together,
such as the three wing strokes. Note
carefully their relative position, their
shade and curve.
cannot say), and undertakin'.? the busi-
ness of a writing master, si^ttled himself
at the "Hand and Pen" in Fetter Lane;
and in 161G he published a copy-book of
various hands, in 36 plates, in a long
quoto, which are 'very well executed
considering the time, but I am ignorant
who the engraver was.
Anno Dom. 1645 he published his
"Chirographia," in which he styles him-
self Master of the Pen; it contains 37
plates, where in he seems principally to
aim at an improvement of the Italian
hand. (Tiuldard Script. He tells us he
has exactly traced and followed certain
pieces, both in character and language,
of the ablest CalUgraphotecknists, and
Italian masters that ever wrote; with
certain pieces of cursory hands, not
heretofore extant, newly come into use.
There is another edition of this Chi-
rographiain in 1664, published,(I suppose,
after his death,) with this title; Geth-
ings Redivious; The Ben's Master-piece
Restored, being the last work of that
eminent and accomplished master in
this art.
There is his picture in the front; he is
drawn with a peeked beard, and a laced
I died the 10th of April, 1626. So this
j dedication must have been written long
I before the publication of this bo^k in
1 1652. but I can give no certain intelli-
gence of the time of Mr. Gething's
death.
GALILEO.
In 1683, Gahleo, then a youth of eigh-
teen, was seated in a church, when the
lamps suspended from the roof were re-
plenished by the sacrislui], \s Im iu -loing
so. caused them to osiiLit. ti .m -nir to
side, as they had di.m 1 1 iii,.l i . .1^ of
times before, when .siiinl.u l\ ili>i m Ij.d.
He watched the laiiii), aiui tliuu;;li he
perceived that, while the ut^eilliUions
were diminishing, they still occupied the
same time. The idea thus suggested
never departed from his mind; and fifty
years afterwards he constructed the first
pendulum, and thus gave the world one
of the most importa,nt instruments for
the measurement of time. Afterwards,
when living in Venice, it was reported
to him one day, that the children of a
poor spectacle maker, while playing
with two glasses, had observed as they
"" "^ It, that things were brought
The School Visitor. ■
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
1
^he ArneriGan Penrnan,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
single copies or the ajibhican pbnmai
mfliled lo any address on receipt of fl ceni
pie copies iinlll furtber notice sent free.
ADVERTISING RATES.
tif' 00| (55 OOSlflO 0llt;146
II give s
Unlll fnrtlier m
casta wllblu iH) ilArsfrom tiate of com
Heading matter will be Inserted t
line. Nine words make a line, and
given on Reading Matter Rales.
) of (s or less n
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
PREMIUMS.
Toalloursiibscrll
iinttl fnrttier notice,
Clark's ProgresBlve
remitting One Dollar we will
il II copy of VoUime First of
k-keeptng and the Amebioan
le year, or we will present a copy of
)f Book-kt;eplng to any one sending a
Bcriberaand $4.so. Now is the time
perHoua Interesting
Trr American I'bnuan and sending clnbs
)r more, a dlsrount of lO per cent, will be
e club on alt sabscrlptions
;!rAK Penman. Wc prefer
toglve cash premluma to those securing clubs, and
ttUs rnle will be invariably followed.
Remittances should be made by N. Y. Draft, P. 0.
Money Order, Postal Note, or liegistered Lelter, to
CLARK & JOHNSON.
Publishers, Erie, Pa.
OUTLOOK OF THE BUSINESS COLLEGE.
BY PROF.
. FAITON.
Only a few years a^o and the Bi
College was looked upon with contempt
and suspicion. To-day it stands side by
side with the best educational institu-
tions of our land.
A few years ago and the business
educators of our land were looked upon
as a set of men unworthy of public con-
fidence and public patronage. To-day
some of the best educators stand in the
ranks as business teachers, and the best
educated and most influential men we
have indorse the business college. It is
no longer a myth nor a mysterious affair.
It is a reality. It stands high in the
way of training young men and young
women in the real duties of life's great
Its mission is surely the good of man-
kind and the elevation of our educa-
tional system. The past is prophetic of
the future. The greatest men our nation
has produced were men who came from
1\ie humblest walks of life and rose to
distinction by real worth— by true merit
So it has been with the business col-
leges. Tliey are gaining favor every
day. Why? Simply because they sup-
ply a long felt want of the practical in
education. They merit their success.
They have worked hard to reach the
place they now occupy in the public
mind. They have fought against super-
stition and prejudice. They have had
to cope with the literary schools till
they gained a footing and found a place
in their confidence.
The time was when business men
would not employ a graduate of a busi-
nefs college. I have heard that some
business colleges of the past even cau-
tioned their graduates nottoshow their
diplomas on applying for a situation.
But that is one of the things of the past.
The Business College graduate of to-
<lay feels a sense of security in that
sheet of paper or parchment which is
the source of as much pleasure to him,
I dare say, as if he held a sheepskin
from Harvard or Yale. It is the start-
point in his life. The scroll on which
su ccess is written. And if he has been
properly inspired by his teachers with
the one great element of success, invin-
cible determination, as he grasps that
diploma and marches forth to battle
with life's great problem, you might hear
him utter these words: "I will find a
way or make one."
It is the luission of the business col-
lege to go forwaid. They are not yet
perfect, but they are fast nearing per-
fection. They are fast calling to their
ranks men of real merit. Men who are
able to inspire the young with courage
and nobility of purpose.
The outlook of the business college
a grand one. It is fast becoming known
that no education, however perfect
science or art or literature, is complete
without a knowledge of the more prac-
tical things of life, which may be ob-
tained in a good business education.
The graduate of Harvard or Yale or
Princeton, the young man who intends
to study law or medicine or even to
preach, needs a business education to
thoroughly fit him for his life's work.
The fanner, the mechanic, the specu-
lator all need a business training to
make them truly successful.
To thosQ who have no paj-ticular pro-
fession .in view let me say; in this day of
electricity and steam there is ever an
increasing demand for young men and
women as bookkeepers, as clerks, as
amanuenses and secretaries, and no
young man, who is truly worthy, need
stand idle a single day if he has the
proper business training. To such the
college opens a grand avenue
Ve cannot help seeing,
then, a bright and prosperous future for
good business colleges. Emigration is
fast filling up the golden west. Our
population is increasing at a marvel-
ously rapid rate. Ere long this vast
territory will resound with life on every
acre of soil from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. It is the work of the business
colleges to properly train the young
country, for on them rests
tlie future commercial interests of the
commonwealth. Then let them spare
tins to lay before the youth of
land the bright prosjiects of
the future ond thf avenues of em-
ployment open to the competent— the
swift and willing, for "tis an age on
ages telling, to be living is sublime"
Preparation, thorough preparation,
for the duties of the coming years should
be the aim of every young man, and
thoroughness and conscientious work
should be the motto of the business
'ollege.
HOW COLD PENS ARE MADE.
" Yes, you are above me, I grant,"
said a gold pen to its holder the other
night as the two lay idly in the pen-rack,
"but you need not exalt yourself on
that account, because your are merely
an adjunct to my existence.
"As you have (Vequently made aspei^
sive remarks touching my character and
value, listen and I will repeat what was
said to a representative of the daily
jVc7/'« yesterday by a gentleman who
looks after the interests in Chicago of a
large New York gold pen manufacturing
establishment. His remarks will con-
vince you that aside from my inestima-
ble value as a connecting link between
past, iiresent, and future generations,
there are facts connected with my his-
tory and manufacture which will tend to
increase your respect for me. In his
own words the gentleman had this to
say about me": —
" ' A bar of gold, fourteen carat gener-
ally, is rolled and pressed out into a
long ribbon about two inches wide and
about the thickness of an ordinary sheet
of blotting paper. This is then cut up
into what is called blanks, each blank
being about half an inch in width, and
with one end tapering to a point. In
the processor manufacture each of these
blanks develops into a beautifully fin-
ished pen. The points are first notched
in order to receive the iridium, without
which a gold pen would be useless, and
here I will digress a luoment and give
you some facts concerning this essential
to our business. Iridium is one of the
so-called noble metals; it is very hard,
white in color, and exceedingly heavy.
We get our'supply from Siberia, and as
it is a very rare metal it is very expen-
sive, the price ranging from $20 to $200
an ounce, but we do not use an ounci
that costs less than $100. I believe th.
metal was found in California sonii
years ago, but proved too soft for on
purpose, and we could not use it.
" 'We will now proceed with the raanu
facture of our pen : When the iridium
point has been placed in positii
then subjected to what is called the
' sweating process'; by means of a blow-
pipe the point is brought under the in-
fluence of a ray of fire, and the iridium
and gold are indissolubly welded to-
gether ; the black surface and discolora-
tions are th«i removed by immersing
the blank in a vitriol bath. It is "then
passed through a succession of opei
tions by which it is rolled out into the
required length, cut into the proper
shape, and the name of the ir
turer, number, etc., stamped on it. It
is now tempered by a system of ham-
mering and burnishing, which also gives
it elasticity.
" 'The pen has nowreached oneof the
two most important points in its de-
velopment—that is. the grinding, which
is done on a copper lathe, with the aid
of fine emery flour. Next follows the.
by far, most important operation of the
whole process of manufacture, the slit-
ting, which has to be done with the most
delicate accuracy, the entire value of
the pen depending upon the nicety of
the operation. This is done on a very
fine copper lathe, which saws through
the interior point and into the pen the
desired distance. The pen is then pol-
ished and the point scratched to facili-
tate the flow of the ink ; it is then
tested, and if found perfect is ready for
sale. Our pens improve with use and
cannot be worn out in legitimate work.
I know one man who has used one of
our pens for thirty years and it is still
unimpaired.
"'As you see, the entire manufacture
of the pen is done by machinery, al-
though it will pass through the hands of
ten or twelve persons before it is fin
ished. With the exception of one in
Detroit and one in Cincinnati there are
no factories outside of New York where
gold pens are made.'' " — Chicago Herald.
It is not because some men can for-
tell future events that they are more
successful than others, for up to the
present tune no man has discovered a
rip in the curtain of futurity. They suc-
ceed simply because they know how
to estimate the value of a thing when
it occurs.
WHAT BO\S SHOULD KNOW.
Don't be satisfied with your boys' edl
cation or allow him to handle a Latin Ot;
Greek book until you are sui
1. Write a rapid business hand.
2. Spell uH the words he knows how
to use.
3. Speak and write good English.
4. Write a good social letter.
5. Write a good business letter.
fl. Add a column of figures rapidly. M
7. Make out an ordinary account. ■
8. Deduct IG5 per cent, from the faoefl
of it. "
9. Receipt it when it is paid.
10. Write an ordinary receipt.
n. Write an advertisement for the
local paper.
12. Write a notice or report of a public
meeting,
13. Write an ordinary promissory
note.
14. Reckon the interest or discount on
it for days, months, or years.
15. Draw an ordinary bank check.
10. Take it to the proper place in a
bank to get it cashed.
17. Make neat and coiTect entries ii^
your day book and ledger.
18. Tell the number of yards of carpet
required for your parlor.
19. Measure the pile of lumber in your
20. Tell the number of bushels of
wheat in your largest bin, and the value
of it at the current rates.
21. Tell you something about the
great authors and statesmen of the pre-
ent day.
22. Tell you what railroads he would
take in making a trip from Boston to
San Francisco.
If he can do all this and more, it Is
likely that he has sufficient education%
enable him to make his own way in ttl*
world.
If yoti have more tltue and money to
spend upon him, all well ond good, give
him higher English, give him literature,
give him mathmatics, give him scienoe,
and if he is very, very anxious about it,
give him a little Latin and Greek, op
whatever else the course he intends
pursuing in life dem&nds.— School Sup-
piemen f.
THE GREAT NECESSITY OF EDUCATION.
Many parents in these days of money-
making do not properly appreciate the
benefits of education. Fathers say that
what they want their boys to learn how
to make money; and thinking that they
are doing what is best for them, take
theiu from school just at the time when
they most require the discipline whloh
they are under there, and when ttalbt'
minds are just beginning to verge into
new channels. This is the very time
when they most need guidance and
instruction to prepare them for the work
before them. People may cry down
education, and point out a few succeaS'
ful business men who are uneducated.
These, however, are not the rule but
the exception, and hi nearly every other
branch of work education is deemed
almost essential.
Show me the great men of the day—
the rulers, statesmen, legislators, gover-
nors, judges, journalists, lawyers, dQi
tors, and even the m<
ness men— and I will show
•ated men. If they have not enjoj^
the advantages of a cDJIegitite ■
they have felt the neL-e!*sity of tbM
which lesser mind}< regard ^n ligbtlyft
and have educated thcmsflves. otttlt^
after surmounting many obstacles, btfjl'
they have done it— School Principal la'
Ohf)c-/Jt:mocmt. C
THKHttisabook worth all other booi(||,
which were ever printed. — Patri»
Ut-nry.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
LETTER WRITING.
BY E. K. ISAACS. VALPARAISO. IND.
Article IV.
FOLDINO.
The American Penman printer
gkipped a paragraph, or riither got two
paragraphs concerning "Folding" mixed
up in my last article, so I will have to
repeat, and the directioiiB for foldlnff as
the printer had them in the last issue
are hereby declared null and void.
Xofe Paper and Note. Heads.— FoXA
the lower third of the sheet up, and the
upper third down.
Letter Paper and Letter Heads.— Fold
the lower half up. so as to nearly meet
the top edge; then fold the right third
toward the left and the left third toward
the right.
SUPER.SCRIPTION.
The superscription, or outside address,
is the address written on the envelope,
and consists of the same items as the
side slope, while all can be arranged
neatly and systematically, although the
style or the arrangement may differ
according to the number and length of
the words comprising the different lines.
MODEL SUPERSCRIPTIONS.
No. 1.
B. M. Worthington,
Wilmiitfjton,
Dane Co.,
Iowa.
No. 2.
B. M. Worth inff (on,
Wilmington^
Dane Co. Iowa.
No. 3.
Henry C. Smith,
81 Madison St.,
Chicago,
Ills.
Model 4.
Henry C. Smith.
Chicago,
81 Madimn St. Illinois.
A BOY ON BOARDS.
There are several kinds of boards,
sign-boards, base-boards, dash-boards,
clap-boards, side-boards, paste-boarde
and school-boards,
I think I win write about school-
boards, because my sister is a teacher,
and I can remember a good many things
she has said about them, and that will
help me some.
I don't know whethi
are always made of grei
I heard my sister say
wasn't half baked. Gi
wasn't kiln-dried,
and turned on the
school-boards
ce the board
Guess she meant it
Maybe it warped,
TODg side, or maybe
it shrunk badly, when exposed to the
dry fjueHtion of wages.
School-boards are of different shapes,
some are square and polished on both
one, or stick the old pieces together
with taffy.
My sister says there is too much slang
in this, but father says slang is mighty
and shall prevail. He knows because
he is a man. Men know everything,
because they can vote.
Sometime I will write about other
kinds of boards, if you have not been too
badly bored with this. — Am. Jour, of Ed.
It is held by the Courts that checks
should be presented at the banks upon
which they are drawn the day they are
dated, otherwise, if the bank fails in the
meantime, it relieves the drawer from
payment. A case of this kind was re-
cently decided in the Pittsburgh Courts.
A check was drawn on the Pena Bank
in favor of the Penn'a Railroad Com-
pany, who deposited it on t he fol-
lowing day. but it was too late, and the
case was decided against the railroad,
who had brought suit to recover.
oto-engraved 1
cuted by H. C. CIe
full inside address given in the intro-
duction, namely, the name and resi-
dence of the person to whom the letter
is written. If the person addressed re-
sides in the country, or small town, the
full address consists of the name, post
office, county, and State. If the person
lives in a large city, the number and
street must be given, together with the
city and state.
Position and Arrangenicut of the
Suprracription.—The first line, consist-
ing of the name of the person, should be
written at or a little below the middle of
the envelope, and in such a way tliat
the margin at each end will be the same,
If directed to the country or smalltown,
the second line consists of the postoflice,
the third line the county, and fourth
line the state; or the county may be
written in the lower left hand corner,
instead of in thethird line. (See models
2 and 3.) If directed to a large city
where the mail is delivered by carrier,
the second line consists of the number
iind street, the third line the city and
the fourth line the state; or the number
an<i street may be written i« the lower
left-hand corner, instead of in the second
line. (See models 3 and 4.)
The different lines of the superscrip-
tion should be written straight, equi-
distant, and parallel. They should be
arranged so as to present a grotlual
f^lope downward and toward the right,
due attention being paid to both sides.
Some addresses can be arrangtd so as
t<» slope eijually and gradually on both
sides, some look best with a regular
Ifft-wde slope, and some with a right-
Punctuation of the Superaeription.
period follows each abbreviation, and
the last word; commas separate the
different items.
Legibility.— ^XtecieX care should be
taken to make the superscription accu-
rate and perfectly legible. Thousands
of letters go astray every day on ac-
count of illegible and otherwise defec-
tive superscriptions.
The stamp should be placed in the
upper right hand corner, its edges
parallel with the edges of the envelope.
Uncle Sam would no doubt carry a
letter just as wilUngly with the stamp
in any other place on the envelope, but
due respect to custom, and especially
for the convenience of the postal clerks,
requires the stamp to be placed as
directed above.
a suggestion.
Much practice may be
order to address envelopes well, and I
would suggest that those who feel
themselves deficient in this particular
Ijurcliase two or three liuiidred cheap
envelopes, and practice writing all sorts
of addresses. Don't allow yourself to
become accustomed to pencil lines or
under lines in addressing an envelope,
but practice until you can write straight
without lines.
In ray next I shall speak about the
penmanship for correspondence, and
will give several illustrations.
{To be continued.)
sides, some are longer than they are
broad,and so thin they bend under sUght
pressure.
I asked my sister what kind a board
ours was, and she said it was a good-
looking board, but when put to any
use it was full of slivers. There was a
young lady staying with my sister the
evening I was writing this, and she said
she tiiought some of the board would
make good hitching-posts. I asked lier
if it was because they were such big
sticks- She said that wasn't it. Then
they both laughed; they thought I
didn't know what they uieant, but I did,
because I saw Mr. Jones take her to
church, andheis a member of the board,
and she acted us if she thought he
would be good to tie to.
The school-board is used for the pur-
pose of getting the cheapest teachers
they can find, whether they know any-
thing or not. and to vote down women's
wages, and to leave men's as they are.
This kind of board is elected by the
people, mostly men.
They most always get the closest
grained they can find; when the teacliers
say they don' get pay enough, the people
say it is the board. The teachers say
the people had no right to get sut-h
hard wood for their board, and the
board say, "What are you going to do
about it?"
Sometimes there is a weak place in
the board, and when thrown against
some hard question, it splits and goes
all to pieces; then they either get a new
LESSON IN WRITING.
BY C. G. PRINCE.
Owing to the fact that there is such a
widespread difference of opinion as to
the best methods of teaching writing, a
lesson in this beautiful art cannot safely
assume to be more than a clear and
candid statement of the author's views
on the subject. Such, in part, is the
object of this article, and should I be
able to offer any suggestions that will
be of value to the readers of the
"American Penman." I shall feel well
^S
Poor writing is of two kinds. First:
That which is written with a free and
rapid movement, but which laclts the
necessary elements of legibility and
uniformity. Second: Writing that indi-
cates a fair or good idea of fonu, but
which have been drawn out with the fin-
ger movement, and consequently jjre-
seuts a heavy and labored appearance.
It should be apparent then to all that it
is only by mastering both of these un-
derlying principles, i. v.. Form and Move-
ment, that the student can achieve well-
merited fame as a penman, or even be-
come known as a good business writer.
Form and movement are the great
objects to be kept constantly in view,
for if either one is lost sight of the re-
sult is disastrous. Movement should
first be considered for by its Ube we exe-
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
cute form. Those who desire to become
expert penmen, should, in our opinion,
devote about one-half of their time to
whole arm practice and the other half
to muscular, as complete control of both
of these movements is necessary to the
development of great skill, but for those
who simply wish to acquire a plain
business hand, we advocate muscular
movement, "first, losi, and all the time."
For the acquisition of this movement
tlie following familiar exercise should
be persistently practiced, taking care to
keep the penholder pointing toward the
right shoulder, and the wriafc elevated
at least one inch from the paper, in
order that the ovals may be executed
with a free, rolling motion of the arm,
without the aid of the fingers.
If the learner has formerly written a
cramped hand, he will involuntarily
raise the elbow in practicing this exer-
cise, as he finds it very difficult to roll
the arm at all, while resting it upon the
desk. A little patient labor will, how-
ever, usually serve to gain movement
sufficient to loll the exercise across the
page without lifting the pen or arm.
Too much stress cannot be laid upon
the importance of moveiuent exercises;
they should receive much more atten-
tion and practice at first than sentence
writing, as the successful execution of
the latter is wholly dependent upon a
well trained muscular movement.
77Z777Tr
Many a begumer becomes discour
aged, and wonders why it is that he
cannot secure this coveted movement,
until some day a level-headed critic
informs him that the clothing worn
upon his right arm fits so tight as
to render the free action of the muscles
a physical impossibility.
It should always be borne in mind
that in order to move easily and grace-
fully, the arm must be entirely relieved
of any weight of the body or of tight
fitting sleeves.
paring your writing with that of our
best penmen. Secure good writing, not
printed copies, as yon will then have
something to work from that was actu-
ally executed, not drawn out with a
lead-pencil, retraced with ink, and then
engraved.
Although advice is cheap and the
market is flooded with it. I will venture
to offer a little in conclusion. Work In-
dustriously, criticise carefully, and re-
member that intelligent study, together
with constant practice will always
accomplish wonders. Be encouraged,
but never satisfied, with the results of
your best efforts, and never try to make
conceit and vain-boasting cover up i
host of defects. Be content to let you:
work show for itself, as merit will win ii
the end,
EDWARD COCKER.
the rolling press; at least I have seen
none older that is dated. It contains 30
plates in a small quarto. His picture is
in the front, with this inscription over
it: JEtatis suae 26. So it seems he had
a design, in this his first book, to write
just as many leaves as he was years old;
but I advance this as a conjecture, for
in a copy of verses prefixed to this book
by S. H , he mentions The Penman's
Experience as Cocker's first work;" i here transcribed:
"Arts Glory" the second: "The Pen's
Transcendency" the third, and "The
Pen's Triumph" the fourth. In the
second page there is a dedication
To the ingenious and able penmen
and arithmetician, hi» honored friend,
Mr. Richard Noble, of Guilford in Murry,
and in the last page there is a quadru-
ple acrostic on the author, signed H. P.,
which, for the singular rarity of it. I have
Form is no less an important element
of good writing than movement, and
should receive more study and thought
than is usually given it by learners and
penmen in general.
The pernicious habit of forming n's,
u's, m's and w's alike, (thus giving the
writing a "hand-saw'' appearance), is
the cause of much illegibility and should
be carefully avoided. Practice daily
upon the m's and n's until it becomes as
easy and natural to join the parts at the
top with turns as it formerly was to
connect them with angles.
Loop letters are very important; they
should be of full heighth and width, in
order that they may not be uustaken
for t's.
Both extended and inverted loops
may be practiced to advantage in con-
nection with the small letter o, as shown
in the illustration.
The proper idea of correct spacing
aud slant can only be gained by com-
{Speclftliy prepared for tbe Ambhicah PBNUii
W, H. Lothrop, South BoBtou, Musb.]
This ingenious and very industrious
penman and engraver was born in the
year 1631, which I compute thus: in his
copy-book entitled. Plumae Triumphus.
published 1G57, there is his picture, and
under it this inscription: Etatis suae 26,
which being subtracted from 1657, pro-
duces the year of his birth as aforesaid.
I have met with no memoirs relating
to his extraction, or account of the
place where he was born, and under
whom he received his education. His
first appearance on the field of action
is in London, so that it is probable he
breathed his first air in that city. He
haa been blamed for writing and en-
graving too much, and thereby debas-
ing' that art which he attempted to
promote and illustrate. Mr. Robert
More, in his short essay on "The first
Invention of Wi-iting," says that after
Cocker commenced "Author," the rolling
press groaned under a supersoetation
of such books as had almost rendered
the art contemptible; and Mr. Cham-
pion, in his historical account of pen-
manship, prefixed to his parallel, echoes
the same complaint; adding that, led on
by lucre, he let in an inundation of
copy-books. Now, whatever foundation
there may be for this charge in general,
he was certainly a great encourager of
various kinds of learning; an indefati-
gable performer with the pen and
burin; an ingenious artist in figures;
and no contemptible proficient in the
poetry he attempted to write, as will
manifestly appear, I think, to one who
thoroughly examines liis numerous
works that are still extant. His writ-
ing, I allow, is far inferior to what we
have from the hands of some of our late
masters; and there is not that freedom
and liveliness in his pencilled knots and
flourishes that there is in pieces done by
a bold command of hand. But let us
consider the time in which he Uved and
what little improvement there had then
been made in the modern way of pen-
manship, and we may justly make
allowance for the many defects that
now appear in his books, and say, with
the poet,
1^[ tlic imparlial judge, in everv ca<!P,
Weigh well the circumstances, time and place;
All these consider'd, the accused may,
With justice be discharged, on such a plea.
In 1657 our author pubhshed his
Plumae Triumphus; in some title pages
it is The Pen's Triumph, invented,
written, and engraved by himself; he
Uved then on the south side of St. Paul's
Church, over against Paul's chain,
where he taught the art of writing,
which, perhaps, was his first work from
HIS RKKOWNED FRIEND,
MR. EDWARD COCKER.
Excelling artist, thy immortal famExceeds the reach of pens, from whence it camE
Directed from on high, thy curious hanDisplays such secrels, all amazed stanl)
What makes ihy pen like Nile, thy ovetfloWith excellence! how glorious wilt thou groW
Art thou still multiplying, like the feAnd canst ihou yet find out another pleA
Rare Phoenix! thy bright quill transcends afaltefined'st pens, as Sol a painted staR
Desist not from these arts their bottom founDiscovering all, for all by all be crowneD
Consider what rare precepts pens dispenConverse from far comes by intelligenC
O who can but admire thy skill, that sO'ertops those artists, who for famous gO
Commerce, abroad, at home, pens cannot laCamp, courl, and cily of you boast and craC
Know, readers, who for pens perfection looKnols and unparelelled lines shine in lliis booK
Erected are the columns to thy praisEach touch of thy smooth quill thy fame doth rais£
Repute attends thy arts, thy virtues favoRenowned is thy name, wit, pen, and graveR
In the saKpe year, {I. c, 1657,) he pub
\
he published his
' exhibiting all the
England, en-
Hshed his "Pen's Transcendency,"
"Pair Writing's Labyrinth."
It contains 33 small oblong folio
plates, besides his picture at the begin-
ning, and a large plate at the end, in-
forming the reader that he then lived
in St. Paul's Church-yard, where he
kept school, and taught writing and
arithmetic. The writing is mostly "Sec-
retary" and "Italian," according to the
custom of those times, with a great
many labored knots and languid pen-
cilled ornaments. There is another
edition of this book in 1660, which was
then augmented, containing 43 leaves,
including letter press work.
Anno Dom. 1C59, he set forth "The
Artists Glory, "-or the "Penman's Treas-
ury;" with directions, theorems, and
principles of art, in the letter press
work. It contains 25 plates. At the end
of the book is a Latin anagram, by one
Jer. Colier.
In the year 1661 he published his
"Penna Volens," or "Young Man's Ac-
complishment," to which he prefixes
this distich:
"Whereby ingenious youth may soon be made,
For clerkship fit, or management of trade,"
invented, written and engraved by him-
self.
It contains 24 plates, besides his pic-
ture at the beginning. In each leaf
there are directions for the principle
rules of arithmetic.
The best performances in this book
re the German Text Capitals, and the
samples of Court and Chancery hands.
Anno Dom 16(i4 he published his
"Guide to Penmanship," of which there
another edition in 1673. It contains
22 oblong folio plates, besides his pic-
at the beginning, where he is
1 in hi* own hair, with a laced
band, and a pen in his hand, and these
lines underneath.
■"Behold rare Cocker's life, resembling shaee,
Whom envy's clouds have more illustrious made;
Whose pen and graver have display'd his name,
With virtuoso's, in the book of fame."
Plus book abounds more with orna-
mental, or rather fanciful flourishes and
pencilled figures, than examples of free
and sound writing. At the latter end j metic," which
of it there are 5 leaves of letter-press i 40th edition
work, setting forth some extraordinary! "Cocker's Decimal Arithmetic,
rules and directions, (as he himself ex- the fourth edition being published
pressed it), for everything belonging to I 1713.
the art of fair writing. It was printed The following line.s are from his V
graved by himself. It contains 26 plates
in large octavo, with rules for writing,
and some verses, in 4 leaves of letter-
press work. As this book was engraved
upon silver plates, (a thing I have never
met with in any of our most celebrated
penmans' works), it has raised the
curiosity of many to know what supe-
rior excellency there is in it. For
my part I can see none; tlie engravers
are the best judges whether or no that
metal is fitter for their working, and will
show to a greater advantage than cop-
per. I fancy it was a piece of foolioh
ambition that prompted our author to
do what perhaps had never been done
before. The book was sold by John
Grarret, in Cornhill.
In the year
"England's Pen
curious hands i
graved on 28 brass plates in folio. It
was printed for Obadiali Blagrave, at
the Black-Bear in St. Paul's Church-
yard; and afterwards for H. Overton.
Some time in the year 1676 he pub-
lished his "Complete Writing Master/*
containing 23 pages in octavo; I oon
give no account of it.
Some time before his death he pub'
lished "The London Writing Master,
or "Scholar's Guide," in 15 small platef,
without a date. The performance l8
small and of no great value.
Besides these books, our author pub-
lished from the rolling-press, the follow-
ing, which were also the productions of
his fertile pen:
1. Multum in Parvo, or The Pea'i
Gallantry. Octavo.
2. Youth's Directions to Wiite With
out it Teacher.
3. Young Lawyer's Writing Master.
4. The Pen's Facility.
5. The Country School Master.
6. Introduction to Writitif.'.
I cannot ascertain the precise time of
Mr. Cocker's death, nor where he died;
but I have been informed it was in the
year 1677, which, if true, was the 4flth
year of his age.
The works that we have of this labor-
ious author, that came from the letter-
press are these:
A book entitled
Spring-Garden.
r*.
"Moralt*,
Muaea*
Cocker's Vulgar Arith-
publishedinl677. Tl^J
published
for John Ruddiard, at the Unicoru
Cornhill.
Anno Dom. 1672, he published his
'Magnum in Parvo," or "The Pen's
Perfection;" invented, written, and en-
gar Arithmetic.
"Ingenious Cocker, now to rest thou
No art can show the fully but thine c
Thy rare arithmetic alone can show,
What sums of thanks we for thy l.ibo
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
50 LESSONS $1.50.
A Course of 50 Lessons in
Writing
(All copies fresli from the pen).
A Course ol 50 Lessous in
Flourishing.
iRor EXKBCI3ES,
U. Muiculft
TKD FEINTED IN ST ROOT JONS,
CHitBT, Bbowlog
ILLUSTBA-
I and expllcl-
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pllcit printed fnatruc
mitll OD receipt pf SI
Sh. '•■"'°"
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Sene
bt of tlio.. Coor...
U baaed on a long
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ts?
BET p^bllb"" '
»,oon,p.,l,„nwltb
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Beautiful S
og, WntloB. end
hepen, 30 Cei
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ot of Capltale, tba
Send PobU
If [lOMlble.
s
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E. K.
ISAACS,
Penman
Ind.
N. I. N. Schools, ValparaUo,
Twelfth Edition Now Ready.
Ckss-Eool! of Cosiirdal-Law
SCHOOL AND COUNTING ROOM,
A Plain. Practical Explanation of the Laws of
Business,
DKSIQN^ED AXD ARRANGED
Especially for Class or Private In-
struction,
By C. E. CARHART,
Prcaideiit of the Albany Business College
Used in all the leading colleges and
schools throi" '" "^ " " ' '
and Canadas.
ghout the United States
Single Oopies, S 1 -OO.
For circulars or spechnen copies, ad-
C. E. CARHART,
Albany Business College, Albany, N. Y.
GOOD PENMANSHIP.
Da H. SNOKE,
_ 138 N. Main St.. South Bend, Ind.
fi GRAND WmjOR PENMEN.
Penmen who desire tirst-class ink and
wish to have it fresh and reliable, can
secure two splendid receipts to make Jet
Black Ink and Carmine Fluid in such
quantities as they desire, at one-tenth |
of the cost at stores, by inclosing 25
cents and addressing
Dra
The above (
Exchange, Erie, Pa.
The
LIFE 6cfi0LARSHip, good'in either College, entitling the holder to aU the advantaJTes'o'f the Commercial Course, and
of reviewing at any future time, costs only $50.
Good board can he had in either Erie or Buffalo at $3.50 per week.
Students enter into actual business practice as conducted between the two cities, affording advantages not approached
by any other Business College. It will pay young men and women to attend either of these Colleges, as equal advantages
are to be had in each school.
The Institutions are indirect communication with the leading business men in all parts of the country, and students
are helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difficulty in securing honorable and
lucrative employment.
The Faculty are gentlemen of well-known ability and experience, and the proprietors will be pleased to furnish infor-
mation to those interested, upon application, either in person or by letter.
-A-cLd-xess
CLARK & JOHNSON,
^^^^^^ Erie, ^a,., or Bij.£falo, HST- "2".
Job 1 Commercial Pritititig.
13est Presses,
I3est Materia f,
I3est Worfiniew.
Iti £v€i7 R€s|)€ct a First-Class EslabUsl)m«nt,
Estimates Furnished Promptly.
k
1
Whn
^
W
»
^
1
"The Anieriean Penman" and "
printed by the Disj^atch Prixtixg Co
Ko, 8 Sast Seventh St.,
Clark's Progressive Book-keeping" are
MtauUftlly bound
photo-engraved fi
a receiptor ONE DOLLAR.
I'ubllslieiJ by
CLARK &. JOHNSON.
'UTK CI.AflK'S JS(:ST.\'BSS COLLEOES,
Eriv, Pa., ana Iliijlalu, X Y.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
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715 Stnte Street,
AND RUBBER GOODS,
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HEADQUAHTERS FOR
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The best selected stock of
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Prominent among the featnres will be series of
ThrUlIng HlBtorlcal KOMANCES AND REALITIES
OF THE UNDEROKOUrJD RAILROAJJ, as Opera- j
Md Id this regloD a generatloi' ago.
Choicest Reading, Literary and General, for Young
TERMS:
$1.0O Per Year. Liberal Discount to
Addresfl
Home Magazine Co,, (Ltd)
SIO State St, Erie, Pa.
vOUiUU Investing $ZiuU
I To Sample our New Cards and Specialties
belirored free. $3,00.
300 GOLD BEVEL EDGE, 12 different Btyles 8 .90
ew Slipper Cards In our new tints) just out 50
A TMrty-Two Page Illustrated
Monthly Magazine.
J. F. SHARP. Editor and Proprietor.
s T .a. B" F:
Rev. C. W, Burnley. Prof. J. F. Davis.
Prof. Howard H. Derneil, Prof. J. M. Blacl(.
Warren C. Dickson, Mr. H. Simmons.
A Piist-Olasa ioaittal,
Tha Uepartm&Bt8t
PENMANSHIP,
FINE ARTS,
COMPOSITIONS AND ESSAYS,
CORRESPONDENCE,
TEMPERANCE,
Y. M. C. A.
ILLUSTRATIONS AND PORTRAITS,
ROLL OF HONOR
Of Meritorious Pupib in the Difertnt Grades,
Biographies of Distinguished Scholars,
Together with Short Stories of Natural History,
Sketchts of Re,il Life, Anecdotes. Poems, Games,
Queries and Items of General Interest.
ORA.lVr> fRIZE© will b6 offered in
■«iJ.3bi one wee*,— iVof, Swi//,
Ageata Wasted (e fiet Vp Olalta,
SUBSCRIPTiON PRICE;
ear in advance. Sample Copie
SCBOLAR'S PORTFOLIO,
OBERLIN BUSINESS iCOLLECE
..lord, .oporto, f.ellKle. fo, Wp.rling » SODND
BUSINESS TRAINING. ^ Weeuij uiciu™. w
■ eel taleul./»ee. Also Ibotough Iraining in VoC4»l
c.^ee. Short Hand Department equal to
OBERLIN COLUSMepirtml of FeQmmhip.
ft TeaoherB' Course f 12 weeks) for $25. OO
l«duat«Cflunie<12we<.kOlor 25. OO
'rofMBlonal Course (lime unllDiiled) 50. OO
IS 36
Oem City Business College, Quiney, III.
-Plain White, gocKi quaiit;, so.U li.W
" B.-Wedding BrlBtol. very bMt .48 .M
*■ c.-GUtEdge. ■™>tt«l 5S IM
'• D.— Bevel GUt Edge, the finest 66 l.OB
.. E. -Bevels of Cream and WWte S6 l.lO
■' G.— SUk and Satin Bevels 60 1.18
■' H.— Eight-ply Bevels. MHort«l _. .62 1.2|
" I, -Elite, Ibo latest Btylea (H Via
Address Lines— Extra '-'O .40
CENTRAL PEN HOLDER.
that, owint;totho
B oQ tUo end pre-
and more import-
ae ou the desk or
8 la contact with.
cat! be unscrewed
all po8albmty of
Tba crimping cfUio flngor: by csntlnasas TriUng, indwhiehlS
CAUSED BY COimiTUALLT OEASPISO AFTIH TEE POIHT eflh*
PES TO BEDTO IT DOWH TO TBE PAPEB, h whoUy otoioobU.
PRACTICAL SHORT HAND,
Or Seven Simple Principles.
••■SwIJt as Sppecfi, Plain as Print, Easy as A B C
IN FOUR WEEKS, by mftll, 2 hours a day, or 48
hours, TEN GENTS.
E, J. MARCH, Pres. Scio College. Scio. 0.
SPENCERIAN
TEEL PENS
I
NEW CASTLE
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LIFE ASSOCIATION,
OF NEW CASTLE, PA,,
Guarantees the Face of its Certifi-
cates, Defines the Cost, Pro-
vides for Contingencies.
SATES AEE EASED 0PON THE AUEBICAN
EXPERIENCE TABLES OF M0BTALIT7.
PILLARS OF STRENGTH
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,. MARQUI3, iVM't. E. D. LCDW
SA1VIPLE CARD CONTAINING
20 DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF
PENS ADAPTED TO EVERY
STYLE OF WRITING SENT
FOR TRIAL, POST-PAID . ON
RECEIPT OF 10 CENTS.
lvison,Blakeman,Taylor,&Co.
153 4 755 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
iBook-sellepg, Stationers
I A[%D IVEWSUEALERS.
i
; Also Steel EngpaviDgs, Arto-Tjpea,
I Picture Frames.
I GOLD PENS. aXYLOOBAPHIO PENB, BOQEfeS' FA-
RT. PAPEB ANDKl
s of STATIONEltY
writing t, ,
find, by using tbo Central Holder, instant relief, rffle
Mo. 618 very broad and dopsaway entirely with KrlppHa,
holdws. Mnuey rofundi-.I, if not fn-ind to be f^inotly
L. MADARASZ, Box 2116, N. Y. City.
PEiv fl.oi;rishi<:i> caku!^.
found to be " the thing." Price, $1.06 perpaok-
of flourishing to practice i
found to be " '
age of 13.
M'RlX'rKiV LEXXER.
er, price 30 cents.
Siei^AXtJRES.
■agle*
FL.OURISHlI>'«.
hlch^a
ents eacil.
«blt4|,
ceded by all to be the nn
Bent out by any penman
2 for 40 cents. $2.10 p
SFXS OF CAI'IXALS.
Executed in tliu blglicat utyle ot Lbu u[t,aDd winning ths
styles
epUl
ENS, aTYHXiitAi'uiu re.aa, KyutKB r
S STATUARY. PAPEB AND KNVBL0PB3
LOWEST 1
I •S'A Liberal Discount on Books to
Teachers and large book buyers.
I SI State ISC, • ERIE, PA.
BR1I.L.IANX BLACK IiliH.
curely^ack^.Tnart bottles to any purl of the COUOtTJ.
JVice per TUnrt, 91.30. By dItutluK with some good writing
this Ink in all my work. See eaniplee. Reclpe fOT IfeB
manufacture, 30 cents.
CARB WRIXimO PENS.
Ifyou experience dilficnlty In securing a pen that wUI
cts., per grou, $1.10
* ' 1.S0
L. MADARASZ,
p. 0. Box 2116, - New York City.
^SAMPLE CARDS, showing a wonderAll
command of the pen, with vour name on, U
one cent stamps, also a coi
all mv specialties.
BOYS!
nplete circular of
o tftka orders for my elenid
,t aumpa for Sample »&
Jos 2116. New York OUSb
IG E*J^OFlTM«
IIM'M
m'mm
^EvotED TO,,, vbM^-'
Vj -
EXTBRBD A7 THE POST-O
' Ems, PA., AS SBCOXD-CLASS MATTER.
H. C. CLARK, Edftor.
S. A. DRAKE, Associate I
CLARK & JOHNSON. Pn
ERIE, PA., and BUFFALO, N. Y.. JUNE, 1886.
Vol. -1— No. 6.
SrHstHiHK tor Tin-: American Pen-
TiiE convention of Business Educa-
i-s convenes in New York, Wednes-
y,'july 7tli.
Every Business College proprietor
nd teacher should attend the con-
t-ntion, as no member of tlie i)rofes-
ion can afford to mi?s it.
Teachers of penmanship will hiive
ample opi)ortunity to discuss tiie best
methods of teaching writing at the
Business Educators' Convention, ii
at the same time they can show their
•■ liand " to the very best advantage
The portrait and autobiography
(ironiised our readers in the last num
her. is necessarily deferred to a subse-
quent issue, as we were unable to get
the cuts in time for this number.
The lesson in penmanship, which
appeal's in this issue, by Prof. C. M.
Robinson, of Lafayette, Ind., is full of
sensible points in presenting the sub-
ject, and is worthy of careful attention
on the part of our readers.
Clark's Business Colleges, and aside tracts, or who make notes in such a
from the usual graduating exercises, [ manner as to allow the possibility of
whicii are to be lield August 24th and
25th, Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, of
Brooklyn, is expected to deliver
address. An excursion to Niagji
Falls is also contemplated.
Colleges and schools intending to
advertise tlieir fall and winter terms,
will do well to jiatronize The Ameri-
can Penman, as during July and
August a larger number of sample
copies than usual will W sent out.
Send for estimates.
With the next number S. A. Drake
will begin a series of lessons in prac-
tical penmanship, which will be illus-
trated by copies jirepared by himself,
and constituting a complete course on
the subject.
Many of the most successful men
in this country owe their stnrt in life
to a good handwriting, and our young
people cannot do anything that will
benefit them any more than to learn
to write an easy and graceful hand.
Business Colleges in all parts of
the country are anticipating an in-
erejiseil attendimce for the coming
season, and the signs of the times arc
such as to warrant the prediction that
more young men and women will be
• nrollcd as students in these schools
tiian every before.
Preparations are now being mad^
for the Annual Grand Opening of
We were somewhat astonished in
reading L. Madarasz's acceptance of
Air. Bennett's challenge, which was
published in the May number, to find
that he (Mr. Madarasz) practically
concedes that he is not equal to the
task, as he mentions Mr. Dennis as his
assistant, in certain lines of the art.
The business outlook in all sec-
tions of the country seems to re-
main unchanged, and while every-
body has been hoping for an im-
provement, they have been disap-
pointed. Just liow long this condi-
tion of affairs sliall last, remains to be
seen, although we are of the opinion
that business will revive very soon. It
is devoutly to be wished that such
may be the case.
There are now several penmen's
papers before the public, and each
claims 4o be better than the other.
Now in order to determine the mat-
ter one should subscribe for tiiem all,
and then he can easily make up his
mind as to which ijaperhe will always
read. The American Penman's mis-
sion is to do its share in helping to
advance the interest of good writing
and practical education. If it does
this, it is wortliy of an extensive pub-
lic patronage.
Lightning rod sharks, operating in
Illinois, the Drover's JbumaLsays, got
the gullible fanner to sign a paper,
as he supposes, a contract ; but, in-
stead, it proves to be a note for ten
times the sum intended.
Such swindles have become so com-
on that it would seem that the
farmers have come to feel it a duty, in
tins way, to contribute a few hun-
dred dollai-s to the support of a large
and increasing class of dead beats and
ra.scals. Almost (*tery community
can furnish scores of similar schemes
that have been "worked" on the
honest,but too confiding and ignorant,
farmer. If stsitistics could be obtained
to show tlie aggregete amount of
money robbed from unsuspecting men
who are induced to sign notes under
the impression that they are con-
the amount intended being changed
to a much larger amount, the resvilt
would no doubt be astonishing. The
most remarkable feature of the case is
that such swindles are possible in our
land of fi-ee schools and genei-al in-
telligence : but since such swindles are
possible, aiid more than that, so very
common, those who are engaged in
acquiring education should endeavor
to gain some jjractical knowledge of
business that shall serve them as a
protection against the deceptive prac-
tices of dishonest men.
The importance of special training
for business, in which all must, to
some extent, engage, has placed the
commercial school among the indis-
pensable educational institutions of
the country, and the rapidly increas-
uig patronage of these schools shows
that their usefulness is gaining a aen-
eral recognition.
preconceived opinions and his choice of
exercises, and rigidly adhere to the di
reetion of the teacher, dilligently per-
forming, in all its details, the work as-
signed to him.
The student may have gained some
degree of skill in the use of the muscular
movement, and. delighted at the ease
with wiiich the pen glides over the
paper, devotes most of his time to
movement exercises, flourished letters,
and combinations, believing that in this
way he is to become a penman, but fail-
ure will be thp result most surely. While
a certain amount of practice on muscu-
lar movement exercises is essential, it
is not alone sufficient; much time must
be given to the study of the forms of
letters.their heighth, width, alant.curves.
and spaces, to insure desirable progress
ithec
CHOOSE YOUR LIFE WORK,
life .
WniTiN& from the influence it may
exert in moral culture and the develop-
ment of artistic taste and its practical
usefulness, should engage the attention
of aspiring youth everywhere, and such
earnest attention as must be given to a
worthy aim in order to excel. The never
varying truth of the maxiiu, "No excel-
lence without great labor," too fre-
quently ignored, is as applicable to
writing as to anything else. One cannot
learn to write well in a week, nor in a
month, but he who recognizes the many
advantages realized by those who can
write easily a plain, graceful hand, and
who is thus constrained to put forth a
reasonable degree of perseverance in
the study of penmanship, will be most
surely rewarded with a very useful and
gratifying acquisition. Although there
are many who have long pursued the j and fling forth fresher fragi , „^
study of writing with commendable zeal | the tempest that uproots the tree« of
and energy, achieving but indifferent re- 1 the forests. Life's character then must
suits, and have consequently concluded j be determined by the passage of critical
that the ability to write well is a natural periods.
gift denied to themselves, the experience One of the first choices a young man
of those who have taught and studied is called unon to make, is a choice of his
the subject most proves that all. by ufe work, and how can he better fit him-
well-directed effort and careful atteu- , self to make that choice than by first ob-
tion to details, can learn writing as well taining a good business education. A
occur, and it is an easy thing to mistake
or even miss them, when they come. On
your choice, at such times, may depend
your future success or failure. Just as
we choose, when the choice is put to us,
and live lives of obedience or disobedi-
ence to law, we can make our own path-
way bloom with flowers or bristle with
thorns. We may walk on through life
beneath a sky of cloudless blue, or
we can till our lives with clouds and
convulse them with tempests. The diff-
erence will be determined by the choice
made at some period of our life. No life
can be free from annoyances, errors ami
sorrows; disappointment and adversity
will be the lot of even the truest soui,
but if the choice made in early life be a
wise one, then these trials will be sim
ply a few clouds floating across the sky,
obscuring for a time the brightness of
its sunlight, but never mantling it in
darkness. They will be but as the rain
storm that washes away the dust from
the petals of the flowei-s and causes the
blossoms to bloom with greater beauty
not like
as anything else. No doubt many hi
placed themselves under the instruction ' principles wUrbe" found "useful
of teachers of writing in the expecta- | tradi
tion of improving their style of writing
without receiving any benefit; but nine-
ty-nine cases of failure in every hundred ; cktion.
are due rather to tiie students own wil- 1 offer a reUef. Here, by spending from
fulness or heedlessness than to any fault j three to six montl;
of the teacher.
I sound knowledge of business rules and
any
profession. There are many
who cannot afford the time or money to
spend years in obtaining a classical ed-
To such the Business Colleges
diligent study.you
prepare yourself for the active
To be benefited by instruction the duties of life, and be able to carry the
learner must feel that the instructor life work you may then choose to take
knows more about the subject than he up, through to a successful termination.
does himself, and he must lay aside his c. v. M.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
Woman's place in the world is in any
capacity or Bphere which she has the re-
(juieite capabilities to fill witli intelligent
and practically successful results. 1 am
not the champion of any so-called re-
formatory measures, nor the upholder
of woman suffrage, or its opposers. It
in not my present province to argue
upon any of the so-called questions of
the day involving woman's so-Called
rights. I do not stand forth as a de-
nouncer of man's so-called justice. In
our land at the present day, woman has
every right which she has thus far
shown herself competent to maintain;
and every avenue is open to her ambi-
tion which her mental powers and
skilled training shall demonstrate her
fitness to enter. That woman has not
already taken her place by the side of
man in the political, scientific, or nieta-
jihysical arena, does not argue her unfit-
ness and incapacity, jier ac, but rather
the necessity of laying the question on
the table, to be decided only after the
experiment has been fully tried of bring-
ing her brain powers up to their utmost
development, through an equal course
it is not her entire sphere, when she has
tlie talent or genius to enlarge it); when
men make such short-sighted observa-
tions, they simply declare to the world
that their wives, mothers, sisters and
feminine acquaintances have all been
among pitiably v eak-brained and super-
ficially educated women, and when a
woman is petty in her nature, and pos-
sesses an uncultured, frivolous mind,
even though she may have some smat^
tering of accomplishments, we agree
with men that she is most lamentably
As to woman's suffrage, the strongest
argument which we can find in its
favor is the plea in behalf of widows
and single women, who own property in
their own right; that, in the regulating
of the laws which govern said property,
they should have an equal chance of
securing ther best interests. But, on
the other hand, this may be one of the
instances in which the best interests of
the few could not, at woman's present
stage of advancement, stand for the
best interests of the majority. As to
woman increasing her individual
freedom of thought and action by re-
ceiving the gift of suffrage, surely all
who have read that thrillingly true
the enslaving of their free wills. Better
be a woman forbidden to vote than a
man selling his vote and manliness, on
account of his ignorance and vice, to
the politician who would bestialize the
nature of his willing slave.
I'ntil women can understand and rea^
son logically upon all questions of politi-
cal moment, let them not yearn for the
privilege of being counted as so many
victims whose free wills must be sarificed
I upon the altar of ignorance.
! That many women in our land are as
I capable to cope with these questions
successfully as any man, is already a
demonstrated fact; but in this, as in
many instances, the few must suffer a
while that the mass be not enslaved.
Until both parties are equally compe-
tent to judge, and choose for themselves
independently of either's coercion, let
us not desire that political wrangle be-
tween husbands and wives, fathers and
daughters, shall help to add the fuel of
political discord to the fire of ignorance
and self-will- And until the majority of
women shall be raised above the ignor-
ance of some of their number, who
think themselves capable of instructing
others, I doubt if woman's suffrage
would very materially clear the politi-
That educated women have success-
fully guided vast political interests, and
shown themselves capable of diploiuatio
powers equal to those of men, history
most plainly reveals. Take the accounts,
gathered from various sources, of the
life of Jeanne d'Albret, afterwards
Queen of Navarre, the mother of Henry
the Fourth of France, and one of the
most staunch and fearless supporters of
Protestantism at a time when to espouse
the cause meant persecution; who waa
selected by the Romish powers as one of
the victims of the Inquisition, from
which fate she was providentially saved,
not by the recantation of her faith, but
by the interposition of the wife of Philip
of Spain. This Jeanne d'Albret. Queen
of Navarre, married to a husband piti-
ably weak and vacillating, utterly in-
capable of comprehending her nobility
of soul, was forced to take into her own
hands the reins of government. Sur-
rounded by enemies on either hand, she
made no mistakes in political measures,
sustained her ancestral rights, battled
for the cause of Protestantism, even
joining the army, and herself personally
encouraging the panic-stricken soldiers
after the defeat of the Huguenots at the
great battle of Jarnac, and the death of
of mental training ond persistent study
with that which is exacted from her col-
legiate brother. Not until it shall have
been demonstrated that woman's brain
is incapable of equal development under
the same training.will the fact be proven
that woman is mentally inferior to man.
That man's mind is different from
woman's in its methods of arriving at
the same result,?, does not necessitate
an inferiority on her side; that an elec-
tric current is different in its methods
of operation from a steam engine, does
not detract on either side from their in-
herent strength and vital force.
Woman, at the present time, needs
education more than suffrage, skilled
training rather than a ccntinued clam-
oring for an enlargement of rights which
she already possesses, and which wait
only her demonstrated fitness. The
words of the Apostle Paul, that "women
should keep silence," have been used
with supposed overwhelming conviction
(that is, to their own minds) by many
men. whose estimates of woman's capa-
bilities have been based upon theu- own
lamentable experience of being sur-
rounded by weak and petty-minded
women. As most of our convictions are
founded upon our own experience, when
men sweepingly declare that woman's
mind is either incapable or unworthy of
high development, and that her only
sphere is in the petty routine of daily
duties (that hersphere is there, we don't
pretend to deny; only contending that
story of "The Fate of Madame La
Tour," revealing the tortures and slav-
ery of the women of Mormon Utah,
where the women are condescendingly
given the right of suffrage, and practi-
cally handcuffed by their husbands. will
be led to doubt the fulfillment of that
part of the promise held out by sup-
porters of this measure. The results nu-
merically considered, at the present
stage of woman's political education,
would probably not be vastly different
in its effects upon any particular party;
for, until the mass of women learn to
think for themselves, intelligently, logi-
cally, and clearly, upon political and re-
formatory questions, the mass will vote
as their husbands, fathers and brothers
advise, except in the case of ignorant
and inherently willful woijien, who will
seek to gratify a petty spite by voting
contrary to the men of their home circle.
When woman's education shall have
broadened and enlarged her mental
horizon, until her umotal vision upon
the ijolitical and reformatory outlook
is as far-reaching as that of the most in-
telfSgent of men. then will she be fitted
to make wise use of such a power, and
then will .she surely gain it. if she need
it. To argue that ignorant, coarse,
wicked, debased men are allowed a
privilege of which she isdenied would not
be a powerful plea to her refined nature
did she stop to realize that the so-called
privilege of these ignorant voters is that
of bartering their votes for whisky and
cal horizon from the clouds which hang
over it.
As an instance of ignorance upon
these questisons displayed by women
who even profess to teach others, I will
mention the following: A woman who
spends her time in going about the coun-
try and making exhortations, made in
my hearing the following illogical and
ignorant remarks, of which any bright-
im"nded school-boy would have been
ashamed, "that she thought the only
solving of the negro question would be,
to found a colored republic within the
boundaries of our own nation and give
to them their own government and Leg-
islature and President, and treat with
them as with a foreign power." As to
the Germans, as they were such beer
drinkers, her opinion was. that "our
government should never have given
them the privilege of becoming citizens
through naturalization." And, as to
the Chinese, she considered that they
were allowed to come to this country in
order that they luay be converted to
Christianity, in which laudable opinion
poor California does not entirely differ
with her, but plaintively begs to be al-
lowed to send their 100,000 heathen, free
of freight, to the benevolent evongeli-
zers of New England, that they may
have the privilege of converting the
heathen at their own door. Thus, in
five minutes' time, did this woman dis-
pose, probably to her own ignorant aat.-
isfaction. of these momentous questions.
theii- leader, the Prince Conde. Thlfl
masterly address of a woman to the
soldiers of the Reformation hag some-
thing truly Napoleonic in its clear, ring^
ing cadences, and somethuig vaatl^
grander than Napoleon's aim; for it WM
inspired by a desire to uphold and ad-
vance God's kingdom, rather than an
ambitious thirst for increased powM^
Whatever we may think of upholding
any cause by the use of the sword, we
must admire these .soul-stirring words of
this great and dauntless woman:—
"Sodiers, you weep! But does the
memory of Conde demand nothing more
than tears? Will you be satisfied with
profitless regrets ? No ! Let us unite
and summon back our courage, to de-
fend a cause which can never perish.
Does despair overpower you? Despair,
that shameful failing of weak naturesi
Can it be Itiiown to you, noble warrioai
and Christian men? When I, the QualULu
hope still, is it for you to fear? BeoafflBy
Conde is dead is .all, therefore, l^HT
No! God. who placed aruis in his hands
for our defense, and who has resooad
you from perils innumerable, has ralMd
us up brothers in arms, worthy to 800^
eeed him and to fight for the cause Of
the King, our countrv, and the truth I
* * * To these brave warriors I ad^
ray son; make proof of his valor. Sod[j
iers! I offer you everything in
power to bestow ; my dominions, i
treasures, my life, and that whioh*^
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
dearer to me than all—my children! I
make here nolenm oath before you all,
and you know me too well to doubt my
word, 1 swear to defend to my last sigh
the holy cause which now unites us,
which is that of honor and of truth !"
Think you. if the wives and mothers
of the men of our republic were educa-
ted and trained to become such women,
the bills passed by Congress would be
influenced, as now, by the unscrupulous
but keen-witted women-lobyists V Men
will be influenced by women: l.t i\.]y
wife and mother and sister in ili- l;iii'l
see to it that their own pett\ hhh.IhiI
ness and weak (because unt^xci-risiMlj
brains do not leave it for other bad,
though it must be confessed, much
smarter, women to wield the power for
evil, which they could hold in their own
hands for good did they but use and
increase the talents which God has
given them, and for which he will surely ■
hold tliem to an account. I
be the last to seek to appropriate her
brother's crown of glory, when her own
memory is immortalized by her match-
less songs which her brother publicly
acltnowledged to the world as composed
by the sister whom he admired above all
women, and whose genius he candidly
and lovingly recognized. In these days
woman's place in the world is bounded
only by her own capabilities and high-
est possible development. In benevolent
and uiissionary enterprises she has long
taken the lead. Now, literature, music,
:ii t, s.-ieuce, medicine, metaphysics,theo-
|i iu> (hhI trade are open to her ambition;
ami to every woman comes the stirring
question, What can I make of my own
lif el— Lydia Hoyt Fatimer in Cleveland
Leader.
The proprietor of a wholesale import-
ing and exporting house down town
A LESSON IN PRACTICAL PENMANSHIP.
. ROBINSON.
The exercises in the following cut may
be practiced with the whole arm or fore-
arm movement. In practicing the
whole arm movement you should keep
the arm free from the desk, resting the
hand on the back of the last two finger
nails. This movement will enable be-
ginners to obtain control of the hand
more readily than any other, but it
should be introduced as a stepping-
stone to the fore-arm movement in the
place of being made a standard move-
ment for making capital letters.
Next we come to the fore-arm move-
ment, which has universally been called
the umscular movement. (We see no
reason for calling this the muscular
iiioveinent. for the simple reason that
every movement we make is a muscular
movement). The position for practicing
. RUS:
, JOI-U
One of the grandest and best laws ever
entered upon the statute books of the
nation is undoubtedly the civil service
reform law. I am in receipt of the
Second Annual Report from John M.
Gregory, one of the commissioners, who
says "the enforcement of the civil service
act of January 16, 1884, has been found
both practicable and effective for the
accomplishment of its purpose.'' It has
relieved a large number of officers, from
the President down, from the pitiless ap-
peals of the office beggars. So, not-
withstanding the howl of a few sore-
headed demagogues and office-seekers,
the law has proven a grand success.
The days of ignorant dunderheads in
office are evidently numbered, and the
long, (lark nightmare of ignorance has
C.WWl.
If
place in politic
n- to be
1 politician see
to it that she becomes a Jeanne d'Albret
in discipline of mind, unimpeachable
integrity, fearless promulgation of reUg-
ious principles, and unflinching courage.
In pleading the cause of woman's
high mental development and great
future possibilities, we have no sym-
pathy with those foolishly weak advo-
cates of her mental powers, who grasp
at all vague rumors of her past achieve-
ments, and who believe the faint, un-
founded traditions that Mendelssohn's ;
crown of glory belonged by right to his
sister, who. they claim, was the real '
author of his masterpieces; and that the '
laurel wreath of political renown as the i
framer of the Declaration of Independ- j
f nee must be torn from the brow of I
Thomas Jefferson and placed upon the >
head of some unknown woman, who, I
petty rumor saith, favored Thomas Jef-
ferson with her sage advice.
When woman's cause demands such
unreliable, legendary lore to prove her
mental equahty her cause will be weak
Muieed. And Fanny Mendelssohn would
complained the other day of the lack of
efficient clerks in his kind of business.
He said that those who expected to rise,
endeavored to master the details of the
intricate business, but he found few
with energy enough to attempt it.
"Now out of forty clerks I annually
drop thirty two and retain eight. Why
is that ? Well, foreign exchange and
the details of the system have to be
learned thoroughly. It requires energy
and some brains, and a constant exer-
cise of the memory. A majority of the
young men employed refuse absolutely
to try to understand the details. They
hold on in an unsatisfactory manner,
perform their work perfunctorily, and
wonder why they are discharged. Per-
haps eight or nine clerks have helped
theui for months, and tided over, as it
were, their ignorance. Any young man
who is half way bright, honest and in-
dustrious can succeed. Positions are
always open to this kind of clerks.
Once they get in. they remoui, and after
several years turn up as jiartners in the
business."— *V. Y Evangelist. I
this movement is the same as the whole
arm movement, with the exception of
resting the muscles of the fore-arm on
the desk. In order to develop and disci-
pline the muscles of the fore-arm, a
large amount of tune should be spent
practicing the oval Then practice the
Q and U, as you see the first two follow-
ing the oval.
The design of these exercises following
the oval is to gradually reduce exercises
into letters. Any one learning to write
will be greatly benefitted by faitlifidly j
practicing these exercises. Small letters
should be made with the combined
movement. All forward strokes should
be made by moving the whole liand,
letting the last two 'finger nails slide
on the paper. The downward srt-okes
are made by contracting the thumb
and first two fingers.
Now, we will say in conclusion that
every hoy and girl can learn to write, if
they only have the necessary will power
and are wilUng to give the sufficient
amount of time and energy to the
work.
at last been dispelled. The edict has
gone out that henceforth merit and
learning, not ignorance and stupidity, is
to be the test of those who are hereafter
to be clothed with official power. What
a grand thing it would be if the law
could be indefinitely extended to state,
city and township officers. What a vast
amount of trouble would be saved, and
what a blessing it would be to all of the
people. No other law has ever been
made that is of so much importance
t<) Business CoUeges, as the prepa-
ration for government offices is mainly
ae(|uired at these institutions. It is an
acknowledged fact that our business
colleges are giving just exactly that
kind of education that is needed by
every government officer.
The lack of tliis pdTu-atinn is what has
been the (.-jui^p i>l -., htruM. [irojiortion of
the (iefalratiuM- ,ni.l failun-s, both in
and out -.f t)i.-' ..llir.-, A large pro-
Eortiun of tlu- nffim- ol 1 1 1-- government
ereafter, it is fair to presume, will be
graduates of the Business College.
Brethen, it is our duty to make the
course of instruction in these institu-
tions both thorough and practical, for
the book-keeping of the richest nation
on earth depends upon skill and knowl-
edge here acquired.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
JFhe AfneriGaii Penffiafl,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By Clark & Johnaon, Proprietors, Erie,
Pa,, and Buffalo, N Y.
ADVERTISING RATES.
One Colamn ii'i «
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
nil parts of the country, anti all
I fiubscrlblng before January 1st, 1S86, will re-
copy one year for 60 cents. When a c lib of
PREMIUMS.
half c
1 subscriptions
fonvariieti to Thr asiehican Penman. We prefer
to give cuBli premiums to those securing cUibs, and
this rule will lie invariiihly folIowetL
Rcmitiiinccs shciilil ite niude by >'. Y. Drnft, P.
Money Onler, Postal Xoie, or Registered Letter, to
> BUFFALO. K Y., JUNE, I
are deserving of special mention on
accouni of tlieir fine address and
studious habits.
\A'ell- written lettei-s have been re- \
ceived fi'om the following named per- 1
sons:
J. N. Curry, Harrisblirg, Pa.
C. G. Prince, Clark's Business Col-
lege, Buffalo, N, Y.
J. A. Best, with W. C. ct A. R. R. Co.,
Vineland, N. Y.
C. Bayliss, Business College, Du-
buque, Iowa.
A. D. Wilt, Miami Cumiuercial Col-
lege. Akron, O. '
STENOGRAPHY.
PFMSOi\AL MENTIOiX.
S. C. Malone, artist penman. Balti-
more, Md., favoi-s us with specimens
ot his pen drawing and lettering,
which justly place him nt the front as
a pen artist.
C. R. Bales, Bloominpton. 111., sends
a beautitully written letter. He is
open to an engagement, and judging
fiom his writing, he ought to have a
good place.
Chas. I. Rice, penman in the Chi-
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway,
encloses several fine specimens of let-
ter writing.
W. P. Richardson, Fayette, 0., en-
closes in a well-written letter, a club I
of fourteen subscribers, and a beauti-
ful pen flourish, which appears in this
number. Prof. Richardson is evidently
a live teacher.
Clark's Business Colleges are attract-
ing students from remote cities and
towns in the United States, as well as
receiving a large home patronage.
During the early part of the month
Messrs. Jas. M. Baker and J. F.AVeaver,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, were registered
among the new arrivals to the Erie
College. Mr. J. C. Maxwell, of Rich-
land Centre, Wis., was also admitted
to m(mbership. These young men
It is astonishing to see the rapid pro
gress made in this branch of education
within the last twenty years. The day
was, and not very long ago, when the
gtenographic art was a rare accoui-
plishuieut. and therefore vahiable to
its possessor. But now many young
men and women in pi-ofessional life can
write short-hand, and its uses are many
and varied. That of court reporting is
one of the most lucrative, and one re-
quiring experience, but nearly every
prominent lawyer, merchant, banker,
and broker has his short-hand secretary
or clerk.
The question may be very properly
asked. How long does it take to learn
the art, and what previous education is
needed in order to make a success? The
average time as given by one of experi
ence, is six months. A thorouRh knowl-
edge of the English branches is abso-
lutely necessary, and knowledge in any
direction never comes amiss. All other
things being equal, the student possei
ing the more extended knowledge wll
make the more rapid progress and gi'
the best satisfaction, but any young'i
man or woman with a knowledge of the
English branches, and the requisite
amount of force and perseverance to
I
The above lette
W. M'. Bennett, Cleveland, O.
J. W. Shott, American Nomial Col-
lege, Logansport, Ind.
C. H. Ivlausman, letter business
writing and cards, Minneapolis, Minn,
W. C. Harvey, Business College.
Davenport, Iowa.
C. M. Robinson, Business College,
Laf»yette, Ind.
ToBAico is a cui-se, socially, physi-
cally and financially, and the raising,
manufactru'ing. selling and consum-
ing of it should be everlastingly sat
down u|)on by all good citizens. — Gal-
liopnlia Jovmal.
Stenographers in railroad offices are
thousands in number, and in the metro-
politan offices of the great express and
transporation companies nearly every
department has its short-hand clerk at
his elbow. The salaries commanded
range from $10 to $25 per week, accord-
ing to ability and experience.
As a work for women there is no field
where men have felt more keenly the
effect of their competition, the average
young woman making as efficient and
satisfactory a stenographer as her
brother, and in many places they are
preferable to a man.
There is to-day no profession offering
so sure and immediate promotion as
stenography. The principal of one of
the first schools in the country said to
me a short time since, that scarcely a
push forward at the point that seems
the darkest, is sure of such proficiency
in the art as will prove eminently satis-
factory.
"With ordinary talent and extraordi-
nary perseverance, all things are attaiu-
— There is nothing in after life that
can take the place of father and mother
to the child; there is no other institution
tike the family; there is no other love
like paaental love, anil no friendship
like the friendship of father and mother.
—X. Y. EqangelisL
The next number will contain a r©-,
port of the Business Educators k9Sfii?<
ciation and much other valuable voSffi^
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
Eighth Annual Convention of the Business
Educators Association of America, to be
held in New York, Wednesday. July 7, to
Wednesday July 14.
The Executive Coiiunittee o( the"Busi-
nes.'* Rduuators Association" takes pleas-
ure in submitting the following sugges-
tions as to the coming Convention:
1. TIME ASD PLACE OF MKETIXG.
The Convention will be called to or-
der at the rooms of the Packard College,
on Wednesday, July 7, at 1 P. M.. for or-
ganization and listening to the Presi-
dent's address For subseciuent meet-
ings, both the Packard Tollege and the
^pencerian College will be at the option
of the convention.
9. pmLIC MEETINGS.
On AVednesday evening a meeting will
be held at Chifkering Hall to which the
public will be invited, and which will be
addressed by representative New York-
ers in a welcome to the delegates, and
responses made by members of the As-
sociation.
It is also suggested that at least one
other meeting be held for the discussion
of some broad educational topic; and
that the public be invited to attend —
the regular sessions of the Conven-
3. DIVISION OF TIME.
It is proposed that Thursday, Sat-
urday. Monday.Tuesday and the fore-
noon of Wednesday be given up
wholly to the real work of the Con-
vention, and that Friday be devoted
to an excursion and banquet, which
has been tendered to tlie members
by the Packard Allunmi Association.
Suggestions as to hours and means
of recreation and leisure are given
under the proper head.
The daily proceedings are suggest-
ed in the following schedule:
FIRST HAV— WEDNESDAY. .lULY 7.
Meeting at 1 P- M. for organiza-
tion, etc —1. Report of Secretary and
Treasurer: 2. Report of Executive
Conunittee; 2. President's address; 4.
Miscellaneous Business.
EVENING SESSION.
Chickering Hall, 8 p. m.— 1. Ad-
dresses of welcome from eminent citi.
zens; 2. Responses by the President
and members of the Association; 3.
Statements from the Executive Com-
mittee and announcements of the
meetings of the Convention.
SECOND DAY— THIIRSDAY.
Morning session. 9 to 10.— Meeting
of committees or sections for the con-
sideration of special subjects; 10 to
11:30, Bookkeeping; How to introduce
the study of accounts: 11:30 to 1, Pen-
manship; The best method of teaching
in connuercial schools.
Afternoon
Management, as applied to the B
course shall it begin, and of what shall i pie opportunity for the penmen, the
it consist ? I shortrhond writers and teachers, and all
Afternoon session, 3 to 4.— Women in [ other specialists, to confer with each
business; 4 to 5, The ethics of business. I other without restraint, and thus to
I promote a better ac(iuaintanoe and
SIXTH DAT— TUESDAY.
Morning session, 9 to 10.— Meeting of
committees: 10 to 11:30. Penmanship in
class instruction; 11:30 to 1. Shorthand:
Methods of teaching, and practical re-
sults to be accompHshed.
Afternoon session, 2 to 4. — Social
economy: Its place in a business course,
and how it may best be tauglit; 4 to 5.
Commercial law: Method and extent of
instruction.
SEVENTH DAY— WEDNESDAY.
Morning session, 9 to 10. — Meeting of
committees; 10 to 11:30, Language: How
it can best be taught in business
schools, and to what extent; 11:30 to 1,
Election and general good of the asso-
ciation.
AND DI;
The Committee desire to make room
for all members who iiave anything to
say, and wish to say it: and. in order
that proper arrangements may be made
to this end. it is suggested that those
more effective co-operation. A room
will be setapartfortheexhibitof books,
machines, and appliances of any sort
appropriate to the work in hajid.
rtAlLROAD RATES AND HOTEL ACCOMMO-
The matter of reduced fare on the
railroads has been seriously and care-
fully considered by the committee, the
result being, that on account of the un-
certainty as to the number of persons
to be provided for on any particular
route, and the fact that very few will
care to come and return over the same
route, the eflfort to secure special re-
ductions would prove of Uittle avail.
They would also call attention to the
fact that these are times of abnormally
low rates <.ii all road;; leading to New
York, and that, though outside ticket
agents, even these low rates maybe dis-
counted. It will be the business of the
committee tD secure all possible favors
in these directions.
wiio are willing te take part, either in
the prejiaratinn of papers or in the dis-
shall communicate with the
of the coumiittee, before the
School I day of meeting.
It
red that
College; 4 ton. Relation of business col- j shall be opened in a deliberate way,
through a carefully prepared paper or
I address, occupying not to exceed thirty
leges to pubUc schools.
THIRD :
utes, to be followed by extemporan-
I eousdiscussion; and, while everv mem-
KOURTH DAY-SATURDAY. ^^^ ^^.^ ^e accorded the constitutional
Morning session. 9 to 10^— Meeting of j privilege of speaking upon any open
y much aid the com-
New York is a city of hotels and
boarding houses, and good board can
be secured at from ten dollars a week to
ten dollars a day. according to the in-
clination and the purse of the guest.
The ordinary price for good single
rooms at the best hotels, is from |1 to
$1.50 a day; double rooms, ?2 to $3.50.
There is no good reason for placing the
entire cost of lodging and board, in
good hotels, above ?3 a day; and any
one who desires to economize, can live
comfortably and respectably on $2.50.
Good boarding houses can be found
close [jroximity to the convention, at a
rate not to exceed SIO a week. Places
at hotels or boarding houses will be se-
)mmittees; 10 to 11:30. Bookkeeping: i question. It
How far and in what direction shall we I mittee to know in advance, the names
go in applying the science to business of those who may be called upon to
specialties? 11:30 to 1, Arithmetic: How | ^peak upon the several topics named
to teach it to secure the best practical | The experience of former conventions
results. ' lias taught us that a full hour for dis-
Afternoon session, 3 to 4.— Industrial cussion of the points in any jirepared
education: Its relation to business ool- , paper or address is as brief a limit as
lege work and to the educational inter- , should be set. * . ■■ , i * i u , 4.1
?,.. ij.e/-, .,1 tabhshed. to hold during the conv
estB of the country; 4 to 0. Commercial rry,^ nnmniittpe nro i^rPiinrt.f1 tr, oHv * 1-1 I I * ■ . 11
^ , ^ ^ ^ .^ ine connmrtee aie piepareci to say. from which can be obtauied all
Correspondence; To what extent jt may f,.n,„ nsani-nn,.*. nivonHv ttt hanA fVmt ' ■ * *■ * . <
«- - , , . „ iiom assuiante aiieaa> at nana, tnai g^ry mformation as to plHf»'«rtfi
be taught as a special duty? | no^e of the topics are likely to go beg-
A Bun
ENTS AND RECREATION.
. of Information will be «
FIFTH DAY — MONDAY. | gillg.
Morning session, 9 to 10 —Meeting of special intekfsts.
'onmiittees; 10 to 11:30. Bookkeeping as 1 The object of devoting the morning
adapted to retail business; 11:30 to 1. hour, from 9 to 10. to "meetings of the
Husiness practice: At what stage of the committees and sections," is to give am-
1 and amusement: and it must not be
forgotten that New York, in summer
time, holds out unusual attractions in
this line. Especially is rich in cheap
excursions to the country and seaside,
while the numerous theatres and con-
cert lialls, arranged especially for sum-
mer entertainments, are all that could
be desired.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, the committee would
respectfully call the attention of mem-
bers and their friends to the fact that
this is an important time in the history
of our association, and that there are
weighty reasons why a special effort
should be made to properly place our
work before the public. Many of us
have been in the field uninterruptedly
for twenty-flve years and more, and
others who have come into it more
recently have the same or even greater
interests at stake in the matter. There
seems to be almost as much necessity for
educating the public mind now as there
has been at any time in the past.not with-
standing the growth of our specialty
and the missionary efforts of earnest and
progressive teachers. Those wlio have
followed the line of progression as ad-
vanced by our recent conventions, can-
not fail to see tliat in this method lies
our best avenue to the public sense and
our best means of promoting efficiency
__ in our individual schools. The Busi-
ness Educator's Association had its
birth in New York eight years ago,
and there are important reasons why
its return to the old ground should
be signalized by such evidences of
solid growth as shall impress the
public. To this end. it is essential
that we bring into our discussions
the best thoughts that are in us. and
that we leave no doubt in oiu* own
niinds or in the minds of our friends
that we are in the line of advance-
ment in educational ideas and pro-
cesses. It is believed by the com-
mittee that the convention of '86
will be in many respects the most
important that has yet been held.
Evidences are at hand of a very
large rttendance, and the prompt
responses which have been made to
requests for papers and co-opera-
tion in other matters give evidence
of unusual zest. It is to be hoped
that members of the association will
not only make an effort to be pres-
ent themselves, but will use their in-
fluence to induce a large attendance
of teachers within the line of their
correspondence. Especially do the
committee request suggestions and
inquiries touching any point of inter-
est. They are determined to leave
no effort untried which shall tenil to
the comfort of members or to the
advancement of the cause. Communi-
cations should baddressed to the Chair-
man, who engages to render prompt re-
plies.
S. S. Packard. 805 Broadway. N. Y
D. T. Ames. 205 Broadway. N. Y.
L F. Gardner. Poughkeepsie. N. Y.
ExeviiHue Committee.
New York. May 10, 1886.
The American Penman is late in
coming out this month, but owing to
pressing business matters, we hope our
readers will excuse the delay. The July
No. will appear alittlelater.owingtoour
desii'e to get a full report as possible of
the Business Educator's Association.
Thereafter the "A. P." will appear on
time.
Avoid the first teiuptation to wrong.
He who yields, and indulges ui some
form of sin practiced by others, because
others practiced it, is in the quicksands
and cannot expect but to suffer loss.
Safety consists in ability to say no.
firmly and from tlie beginning. — A<-ad-
cmy News.
'Tis the mind that makes the botly
fiKh,— Shakesjiearr.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
BY PBOF. RUSSKLL. -lOLIET. ILL.
In comparing the relative merits of our
Business Colleges with those of our
Classical Colleges, we will say nothing
derogatory to the latter, but will, we
trust, by fair argument and couipari-
sons, show up truthfully the relative
merits of each At the outset we claim
that our Business Colleges are doing
vastly more good in proportion to their
means than Classical Colleges, although
we suppose that this may be denied,
nevertheless, we believe that statistics
will verify our statement. In the first
place is it not a fact that the vast ma-
jority of our Classical schools are sus-
tained by private contributions, or by
benevolent individuals, or perhaps some
church? How may of them are self-sus-
taining? Comparatively few. Is not
the annual commencement used as a
day of asking, yea, begging alms, to
lielp along the different Classical insti-
tutions? In the history of any of our
Business Colleges, do we see anything
of this kind; nay, verily a Business
College that cannot stand upon its merit
has to sink, and how 'veil they have
stood the test. Let the hundreds of
prosperous Business Colleges through-
out the country answer this. To any ob-
serving business man, this would, if ap-
plied to actual business transactions, be
most conclusive proof. How long would
any mercantile house, be its name what
it might, stand, that was compelled to
issue an annual appeal to the charity of
the customer, to keep it from bank-
ruptcy? Yet, my classical friends, dis-
guise it as you may, this is precisely
what you are doing: begging to keep
yourselves from having your doors closed
which the lack of patronage would force
upon you.
It may be that many of our Business
Colleges are poor. I know that many,
if not all, are most heartily despised by
Classical Colleges. Thatthey do not edu-
cate and are consequently humbugs, has
been charged time and again against
them. How true this is, let the nuiuer-
ous graduates of these institutions
answer. Everywhere, scattered from
Maine to California, are the graduates
of our various Business Colleges in po-
sitions of the utmost responsibility and
trust, where brains and talent are re-
quired. Can as much be said of the
graduates of our various Classical Col-
leges? The late Horace Greeley, whom
all will admit to be a fair judge, in-
asmuch as he was a graduate of neither
a Business nora Classical College, said,in
1869, that in the city of New York there
was an army of upwards of ninety thou-
sand graduates from the various Classi-
cal institutions of learning of the United
States, and that not a tithe of them
could earn a living, while at the same
time the graduates of our Business Col-
leges were nearly all in some useful em-
ployment. The devotion of four years
to the study of dead languages Mr.
Greeley regards as a most positive injury
to many, and as far as the discipline is
concerned, all sensible persons will admit
that there is enough to learn in the
English language, that is of benefit
to mankind. A knowledge of Latin
may be of benefit to the medical profes-
.'iion, and how very few of these ever re-
tain the knowledge that they have spent
years to secure. Is it not almost invari-
ably forgotten? In regard to the state-
ment that our Business Colleges do not
educate, we think that we have shown
most positively that they do educate,
and do it in a much more practical man-
ner than most of our Classical Colleges.
That they impart the most essential
branches of education which are daily
used and ar6 required for the transaction
of the vast amount of business of the
country, is a fact that we suppose no
man in his right mind will attempt
to deny. That there are humbug insti-
tutions that do not teach what they ad-
vertise, in fact, are grand frauds, we
suppose to be equally true of both Busi-
ness and Classical schools. Of these we
have nothing to say, but of the many
worthy institutions scattered over the
country that have been models of suc-
cess, which are presided over by men of
learning and unblemished character and
reputation, who are devoting their lives
for the advancement of education, of
these we now speak, and are proud to
claim in no arrogant or bombastic man-
ner,that they are doing, have done,and in
all human possibility will do as much
for young men, yes, more that will be of
solid worth to their students and the
world at large, than the very best of our
classical schools. That they ask no en-
dowments from the millionaire or the
philanthropist, but expect to stand upon
their own individual worth, supported
by a just and appreciating public, we
believe redounds most emphatically to
their credit.
When we compare the expenses that
are required at either of these institu-
tions, which is no small matter, espe-
cially in such stringent times as we have
had for the past four years, as it is a
well-known fact that the vast majority
of students that attend these schools are
from the middle and poorer classes, that
compartively few are rich, we shall find
that the investment of $100 in a business
education is surely of much more im-
portance than is the $1,000 invested in
the dead languages. For what the age
demands isatraining of a practical nature
afforded by many of our best Business
Colleges. Let the antiquated mossbacks,
if they have time and money to do so,
search out and translate Nepos, Virgilj
or even grow enthusiastic over Cicero's
orations, but the age demands practical
education, and the young man that has
brains and ability, and the right kind of
energy, is the man that will succeed.
Good business men are apt to ask in
relation to almost anything, Does it
pay? If we put this question as to the
relative benefits of a Business or Classi-
cal education, we are led to the con-
elusion, when we compare them,
that a Business education is better than
a Classical education, for the reason
which we have minutely observed, it
pays infinitely better. It is what the
people need and must have, in order to
do their business properly, and the
unanimity with which they sustain and
patronize the three hundred Business
Colleges is sufficient evidence as to their
relative merits in comparison with Clas-
sical Colleges.
THE ADVENTURES OF THE WHEELMEN.
They had just been introduced. She
was a pretty country gu-l and he a
wheelman who was very vain of his per-
sonal appearance when clad in 'cycling
costume.
He — I assure you there is scarcely a
man who does not find the wheel suit
most becoming.
She— (Doubtingly)— Indeed !
He — As for myself, everybody insists
that I look 100 per cent, better in bicycle
costume than in an ordinary business
She — (innocently) — Dear me ! How
awfully you must look in an ordinary
business suit I
This is also from the country, and
he. too, a wheelman. He had called at
a farmhouse for a glass of water, but the
pretty farmer's daughter had olTered
him a glass of milk instead.
"Won't you have another glass?" she
asked, as he drained the tumbler, with
a sigh, and appeared to be taking in
emptiness with both eyes.
" You are very good," he replied,
" but I am afraid I shall rob you."
"Oh.no.'" with emphasis. "We have
so much more than the family can use
that we're feeding it to the calves all the
time."
An episode of the North Shore;
Bicycler to rural individual: "How
far is it to Blankville ?"
"Wall, for a hoss 'n kerridge it's a
good three mile, but for one of them
blame things I guess it ain't much
more'n than a couple o' hundred rods.
Fust road to th' left, mister, then keep
straight ahead t'l ye get thare."
The quick-wittedness of the Irishman
was capitally illustrated the other day
on the road between Lynn and Salem,
where a gang of laborers were construct-
ing a sidewalk.
"How soon will that be ready to ride
on?" asked a passing wheelman from
Boston, pleasantly.
" Before you're i-eady to pay the Lynn
authorities for the privilege, begorra !"
—Boston liecord.
FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS.
"We should ever have it fixed in our
memories," said Blair, "that by the
character of those whom we choose for
our friends, our own is likely to be
formed, and will certainly be judged of
by the world "
The good Sir Matthew Hale said:
"There is certainly magic or charm in
company, for it will assimilate and make
you like to them by much conversation
with them. If they be good company,
it is a great means to make you good or
confirm you in goodness; but if they are
bad, it is twenty to one but they will
infect and corrupt you. The myriads
who have devoted their lives to drinking
and gaming habits, have ascribed their
wreck and downfall not so much to the
love of drink and mere play, as to the
love of company and the attractive
temptation presented by bad eompan-
" Keep good company, and you will be
one of the number," said good George
Herbert.
There ought to be a restraining influ-
ence in the avoiding of evil and idle
companionships by the thought that al-
though temptation may have been
yielded to in company, the consequences
must be borne alone. Evil companions
are strong to seduce, but heartless to
sustain their victims. They will exhaust
your means, teach you to despise the
God of your fathers, lead you into every
sin, go with you while you afford them
any pleasure or profit, and then when
the inevitable disaster of wickedness
begins to overwhelm you, they will
abandon you.— A'ucccs*.- in Life.
FORTUNE-TELLING IN DRAWING ROOMS
Forty years ago. in 1846, at the ultra-
refined literary receptions of Lady Bles-
sington, a young French girl, introduced
by a friend of the hostess, laid the foun-
dation of her future reputaition in for-
tune-telling. It was Mile. Le Normand,
the modern pythoness. Lady Blessing-
ton, who had been informed by her
Parisian correspondent of the miraculous
gifts of her protege, determined to try
her before she could have become ac-
quainted with any of the persons pres-
ent, or even ascertain their names.
Three men were successively brought to
her. To the first, after examining his
hand, she said: "Your life will be a
happy and successful one, but on one
occasion you and one of your children
will miraculously escape destruction."
To the second: "It seems almost in-
credible, but I would say to you, in thf
words of Shakespeare, "Thou wilt be
king hereafter !' Yes, sir, you will reign.'"
After gazing into the palm of (he third
the young girl shivered, grew pale, and
dropped his hand. Quickly rallying,
she informed him that she saw nothmg \
worth repeating, and left his side. But
the same night, before leaving, she im-
plored Lady Blessington to distrust her \
guest, saying: " He will commit murder
and be sentenced to death."
These three men were Charles Dick-
ens, who, in 1864, returning from abroad,
was in the horrible railroad accident of
Staplehurst, and escaped unhurt; the
manuscript of "Our Mutual Friend,"
his offspring, inclosed in a small hand-
bag, was found upon the track amid the
debris and returned to the author. The
second man was Prince Louis Napoleon.
No commentary is needed. The third
was Charles Wainwright, then a most
proraisiner.painter, who afterwards mur-
dered his wife, with the iimst revolting
cruelty. He was condenmed to death,
but the Queen comiimted his sentence
to transportation for life.
Desbarolles, the great French wizard,
has chosen this opportune moment to
leave the world; sooner he might have
passed away without even the slighest
notice. He was not rich, having lost all
his fortune in the failure of a bank, and
because, as he said, "he had not dared
to ask permission to examine the hand
of the manager." He used to receive-
his clients in a room of dazzling bright-
ness, with curtainless windows, the light
coming in from the sky, the gardens^
and above the roofs. DesbarroUes
laughingly explained: " My attic is the
ante-room of tlie constellations.''
In 1865 a very young Creole, Mile. Au-
tard de Bragard, came to consult him.
"Whom shall I marry ?" " A man whoaO^
position will be universally envied." '* A^
millionaire? A prince?" "Better still.'*
Four year later the young girl became-
Mme. Ferdinand de Lesseps.— iowtoa
Letter to the New York Sun.
A writer's chance of being widely-
read depends greatly on his style, and it
seems to us a piece of literary affecta-
tion for any author to write in florid or-
obscure language. No man who writes
for posterity, as the London Times says,
can afford to neglect the art of compo-
sition. Dr. Johnson's verbosity was a.
standing joke among many of his con-
temporaries, Of him Macaulay said
that he wrote in a style in which no one
ever made love, nor quarrelled, nor drove
bargains, or ever thought. When he
wrote to his friends he wrote good Eng^
lish, but when he wrote for publication
he "did his sentences into Johnsonese."
" He has had his reward," says a writer.
"His 'Rambler' lies unread on our
bookshelves: his talk, as recorded by
Boswell, will be perused by thousands
of delighted students." Carlyle's ex-
traordinary style undoubtedly militates
against his being more extensively read.
—All the Year Mound.
SENSIBLE PARAGRPAHS.
—Whenever you are in doubt about
which of two things to do, let your de-
cision be for that which is right. Do
not waver, do not parley, but go square-
ly up to the nmrk and do the right
thing.
—He who has left the world the record
of a noble life, though he may have left
no outward memorial, has left an endur-
ing source of greatness.
—"Joseph," said a merchant to his
clerk, "your character and all your
future usefulness and prosperity depend
upon the way you pass your eveninga.
Take my word for it, it is a young man'ft--
evenings that tell upon his life."
—New York EvangclisL
THE AMERICAN PENMAN
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E. K.
ISAACS,
Penm
Ind.
in N. I. N. Schools
Valparaiso,
Twelfth Edition Now Ready.
M-M of Comnirdal-Law
SCHOOL AND COUNTING ROOM,
A Plain, Practical Explanation of the Laws of
Business,
DESIGNED AND ARRANGED
Especially for Class or Private In-
struction,
By C. E. CARHART,
President of the Albanij Business College
Used in all the leading colleges and
schools throughout tlie United States
and Canadas.
Single Oopies, 9 1 .OO.
For circulars or specimen copies, ad-
C. E. CARHART,
Albany Business College, Albany, N. Y.
JSl'S
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cS^€M^M^jjy\
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Scholarships Rood in either College. Students mav enter at any time with etjual advantages.
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Good board can be had in either Erie or Buffalo at $3.50 per week.
Students enter into actual business practice as conducted between the two cities, affording advantages not approached
by any other Business College. It will pay young men and women to attend either of these Colleges, as equal advantages
are to be had in each school.
The Institutions are in direct communication wlih the leading business men in all parts of the country, and students
are helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difflculty in securing honorable and
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S. A. DRAKE. Associate Edlto
CLARK &. JOHNSON. Proprle
ERIE, PA., and BUFFALO, N. Y., JULY, ii
Vol. 1— No. 7.
THE CONVENTION
Fairly Successful, but Devoid of
Enthusiasm.
A SMALL ATTENDAXCE.
General Convention Notes, &c.
On AVednesday, July Tth, the Busi-
net^s Educatoi-s' Association of Amer-
ica convened at Packard's College,
Xo. S05 Broadway, New York, and
was called to order by the President,
^ Hon. A. J, Rider. The Secretary was
called upon to read the minutes of the
last meeting, which he did in a grace-
fiU manner. The President tlien de-
livered his address which was read
from manuscript, and as a whole was
ijuite an able i)aper. The convention
then took a recess to meet at Chicker-
ing Hall in the evening. Here a
small audience greeted the speakers,
among whom were Mayor Rooney,
ex-Gov. Chamberlain, S. S. Packard,
Hon. A. J. Rider, Rev. Dr. Buckley,
and Prof. J. L. Hirst. Music was fur-
nished by a quartet club, which was
received by far more favor by the au-
dience than the rest of the pro-
gramme. Ex-Gov. Chamberlain de-
livered an excellent address, claiming
that a business education was much
better for our young men and women
than a classical training. He has a
jileasant style of delivery, and his
address throughout was listened to
with close attention. The last speaker,
Rev. Dr. Buckley, said, among other
things, that a relative of his (a lady)
lost sixty-three thousand dollai-s by
not having a business education.
Following his address, the Glee
CUib rendered a good-night song in a
highly satisfactory manner.
THURSDAY, SECOND DAY.
The convention was called to order
in Packard's College, at a little past
ten o'clock by the Pre.'^idcnt, and Dr.
Bryant read a paper on book-keeping
wliich was made up from observa-
tions the Doctor had made on the '
science of accounts.
We were unable to learn anything i
new from the presentation of the sub-]
jeot, and suppose that if there were ;
any new points, they were carefully
concealed, lest some member of the
convention might find them out. ,
Prof G. W. Brown, of Jacksonville,
III., followed with an address that!
seemed far more eloquent than earn
i-st. in wliirli he deplored the process
nf mystitViiig the records of accounts,
anil Ik* inado a special effort to arouse
and hold the attention of R. C. Spen
cer. of Milwaukee, instead of address-
ing the convention in a body. How-
ever, everybody took it good naturedly
and allowed Mr. Brown to say what-
ever he pleased without molestation
He was followed by Euos Spencer, of
TiOuisville, Ky., and Richard Nelson,
of Cincinnati.
Next, the subject of penmanshi}:
was presented by C. T. Smith, of Jack-
ville, who is credited with the ability
to instruct young people in this
branch very successfully. His me-
thod, however, is not new, as there
are hundreds of teachers who teach
with just ns good results as Mr. Smith,
and in fact we failed to find out
whether he taught by illustration on
the blackboard altogether or fi-om
written copies.
The balance of the day was em-
ployed in listening to an address by
S. S. Packard which, by the way, was
a very able eflbrt, and at four o'clock
the convention in a body went to
Manhattan Beach to attend a dinner
tendered them as guests of the Twi-
light Club, N. Y. About six o'clock
tliere were more than five hundred
people who sat down to dinner, and a
cry delightful time was had by all.
The tlinner was served in excellent
tyle, the bill of fare elaborate, and
the after-dinner speeches pertaining
to the " Problem of the Hour," were
very good.
FRIDAY, THE THIRD J
The
convention accepted the invi-
tation extended to it by the Packard
Alumni Association to a sail upon
the Hudson, and a most enjoyable
time was had. One of the features of
ihe occasion was a match game of
base ball between the Packards anjjl
Trenton College clubs, in which the
Packards were badly worsted.
SATURDAY, THE FOURTH DAY.
The Penmens' Section met at the
Spencerian Business College at nine
o'clock in the morning, and in the
absence of D. T. Ames, Prof H. A.
Spencer was chosen chairman.
H. C. Clark being called upon to
jiresent some of his ideas of teaching,
responded in an address of ten min-
utes, in which he claimed that a stud-
ent would acquire a better command
of the muscular movement by first
practicing with the whole arm. He
advocated simple forms of letters for
business, and was of the opinion that
good writing was one of the most es-
sential things in education.
H. C. Sjjencer and Prof Vincent
followed, each presenting in a brief
way his methods of teaching. At 9:45
the Penman's Section adjourned to
unite with the regular convention in
Packard's rooms at 10 o'clock.
Upon the convention being called
to order the subject of book-keeping
was taken up and discussed at some
length. After which the. subject of
arithmetic was presented in a very
satisfactory manner by T. B. Sto-
well, of Providence. His method
was practical and to tlie point. Few,
if any, of the membere of the conven-
tion could surpass his clear and con-
cise style of presenting the subject to a
class.
At the afternoon session a very in-
teresting and meritorious paper was
read by S. S. Packard, after which the
convention adjourned to attend a din-
ner given them by the Spencer Bros.,
at Manhattan Beach, and it was one
of the most "delightful features of the
convention. Seated at either end of
the table were the two famous Spen
cers, Henry C. and Harvey A., who
look so much alike that one can
scarcely tell " which is which," and,
they kejit the guests in a happy state
of mind during the two hours occu-
pied in serving the dinner. A very
laughable affair was the joke that
Lyman P, Spencer, America's greatest
pen artist, perpetrated on Win. Alien
Miller, the celebrated accountant of
New York. Mr. Miller was engaged
tossing up crumbs that he gathered
from the table, and catching them in
his mouth, (a trick that they say very
few can do successfully) when Lyman
spoke out and said, ** Miller, with so
large a mouth as you Jiave, I hardly
see how a man could foil to catcli
thoae crumbs." The joke was greatly
enjoyed by the guests. After the din-
ner quite a large delegation attended
the concert given by Gilmore's Band,
after which they took a boat for New
York.
MONDAY, THE FIFTH DAY.
The Penmens' Section met at the
Spencerian College and the following
gentleuien explained their methods of
teaching: Roeth, of San Francisco;
CoUins, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Rath-
burn, of Omaha; Hinman, H. A. Spen-
cer, Huntsinger, and Burdett, of Bos-
ton.
Upon the call of the regular con-
vention, Thos. E. Hill, of Chicago,
read a paper entitled," Ethic in Busi-
ness," which was commented upon
by R. C. Spencer, of Milwaukee.
Prof Packard then r^d a paper writ-
ten by Mrs. H. C. Spencer, of Washing-
ton, D. C, entitled, " Women in Busi-
ness," which was by far the best
paper presented to the convention.
In some future issue we shall be glad
to publish this admirable paper, so
that our readers may judge for them-
selves as to its merits.
Business practice was then taken
up by Prof Richard Nelson, of Cin-
cinnati, in which he advocated the
plan of introducing actual business
to the student before presenting to
him anything in the theory of ac-
counts. After Mr. Nelson's talk, Prof
Frank Lincoln, the celebrated humor-
ist, was introduced and succeeded iu
convulsing the convention with his
happy style of telling anecdotes. At
the close of his entertainment the con-
vention adjourned for lunch, and up-
on reassembling. Prof Felix Adler
delivered an address advocating a
higher plan of education amongst
business men, laying great stress up-
on themoralsof business, ignoring the
idea that the sole purpose of tlie busi-
ness man was to simply make money,
as it was the love he had for his call-
ing that should put him to better ef-
forts, and not mere money -getting.
If he was a succsss, money was a
secondary consideration, and that
Id be added unto him. The
speaker enlisted close attention from
his audience and his address was re-
plete with good thoughts, well spoken,,
throughout. In the evening an ex-
; meeting was held, as it
was called, and (juite a large number
responded to the call of the president,
iu relating what each one had accom-
plished while a member of the profes-
sion.
TUESDAY, THE SIXTH DAY.
The Penmens' Section was culled to
order by the chairman at i). 15, and
Mr. Shattuck, of New York, spoke
upon the bad taste of ptiTOig too
many styles of capitals before the stu-
dent, and his talk brought Henry C.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
Spencer to liis i4kt, and he ]>roceeded
to illustrate on the blackboard a va-
ritty of capital letters that were used
and itppioved by business men, as
they were simple and i)ractical, which
justified their perpetuation. At the
close of the Penninn's Section, Hi!i-
nian, of M'orcest»r> wasted a good deal
of time in getting what he thought
was the proi)er thing before the con-
vention, and even said amorg otlier
unreasonable things that " Dr. Tal-
mage would dance in his pulpit to
liold tlie attention of his audience."
Comparatively few of the members
remiiined in their seats to hear his
talk through to tlie end. Political
economy was next taken up and ably
discussed by Prof. McAdam, of Cali-
fornia, and L. F. Gardner, ofPough-
keepsie. During the afternoon a large
number of the delegates visited the
tomb of Gen. Grant.
WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY,
Was given up to discussions of differ-
ent topics, and election of officers,
which resulted as follows: W. H. Sad-
ler, Baltimore, President ; R. E. Gal-
lagher, Hamilton, Ont., Vice Presi-
dent ; L. F. Gardner, of Poughkeepsie,
Vice President; Mrs. S. S. Packard,
New York, Vice President; A. S. Os-
borne, Rochester, Secretary and Treas-
urer; R. C. Spencer, G. W. Brown,
and L. L. Williams, Executive Com-
mittee.
The next meeting will be at Mil-
waukee.
The following are the names of
those who attended the convention:
J. E. GusTUS, Lindsburg, Kan.
A. H. HiNMAN. Worcester. Mass.
C. L. Free, Easton, Pa.
S. S. Packard, New York.
L. L. Williams, Rochester.
A. S. OsBORN, Rochester.
L. A. Gray, Portland, Me.
H. C. Spencer, Washington.
J. M. Frasher. Wheeling. W. Va.
F. E. Wood, Scrantoo, Pa.
W. H. Sadler, Baltimore.
D. T. Ames, New York.
H. C. Clark, Erie.
J. C. Bryant, Buffalo.
R. C. Si'KNCKR, Milwaukee.
C W. RoBBiNS, Sedalia, Mo.
G. A. WiNANS, Rockford, 111.
H. A. Spencer. New York.
C. E. Cady, New York.
W. H. Covert, Fairfield, N. Y.
Richard Nelson, Cincinnati.
C. T. Miller, Newark.
Knos. Si'ENlEr, Louisville, Ky.
K L. Burnett, Providence.
W. A. Warriner, Woodstock, Ont.
R. S. Collins, Knoxville. Tenn.
C. Claghorn, Brooklyn.
Mrs. S. S. Packard. New York.
Mrs. L. L. Williams. Rochester.
H. C. RoETH. San Francisco.
A. J. Rider, Trenton.
T. B. Stowkll, Providence.
G. R. Rathbln, Omaha, Neb.
L. F. Gardner, Poughkeepsie.
V. Schneider, Wilkesbarre.
F. H. BrRUKTr, Boston
P. C. Shattick, Bostoh
R. E. (4ALLAGHKR. Hamilton.
W. R. andE. W. Smith, Lexington.
E. M. Hi ntsinger. New York.
L. Doit E. Kimball, Lowell, Mass.
L, Madarasz, New York.
W. p. Gregory, Allento^vn.
W.M. Bartholomkw. New York.
(i. B. Jones, Bergen. N. Y.
W. A. Barton, Kent's Hill. N. Y.
E. J. Hub, Indianapolis. Ind.
J. D. Odell. New York.
A. W. RiNDELL, New York.
W. E McCoRD, Jacksonville. IIL
P. R. Spencer, Cleveland. O.
Byron Hobton, New York.
C. C. CuRTiss, Minneapolis.
G. W. Brown, Jacksonville. III.
J. H. LiNDSLEY. Elizabeth. N. J.
C. C. Gains. Poughkeepsie. N. Y'.
E. C. A. Becker, Worcester. Mass.
C. T. Smith, Jacksonville, HI.
J. M. Vincent. New Y'ork.
Wm. Allen Miller, New York.
W. E. Drake, Jersey City.
Thos. E. Hill. Chicago, III.
The weather, al the time the con-
vention convened in New York, was
exceedingly hot.
A FEW of the older members of the
convention try to do all the talk-
ing, but never say much.
The New York Graphic recently
adorned one of its pages with fifteen
portraits of prominent members of the
late convention, and an imaginary
illustration of the meeting in Chicker-
ing Hall.
Business Education was not ma-
terially elevated or advanced through
tlie influence exerted by the late con-
vention. Many of the most import-
ant branches received little or no at-
attention. .
Williams, of Rochester, stated at
the convention that " book-keeping
is of the least importance in a busi-
ness college course." What does he
consider a business education to be ?
and does not his students spend more
time in getting a knowledge of this
branch than any otlier.
We had always supposed that a
thorough going business college con-
sidered book-keeping one of the
branches most essential in a commer-
cial couree. but there is one man, per-
haps more, who think ditferently. If
he will just jiublish that fact and cir-
culate it extensively, he will not be
harnessed to a business college pro-
prietoi-ship very long. Young men
seeking a thorough business educa-
tion want a complete course in book-
keeping, and tliey have a right to
ask if the college making this the
])rincii)al branch in its curriculum, is
not the best one to attend. Wc be-
lieve it is.
Mr. Packahi) jirobably did his best
to make a success of the lat« conven-
tion, but lie did not have the hearty
co-operation of the business college
men. It is safe to say that a majority
of the most earnest and successful
workera remained at home, and we do
not tiiink that they lost very much
by so doing. The lack of interest that
was ever manifest, indicates that be-
yond a social ])oint of view, the con-
vention was not a success.
The subject of penmanship re-
ceived some attention at the last con-
vention ; more, we are informed, than
has been the usual custom to grant
it. However, the business educator^
seem to handle the subject very
cautiously, lest they be branded as
penmen. Quite a large number of
them could improve upon their style
of writing to very good advantage.
Would it not be well for those who
are deficient to attend a good pen-
manship school for a term or so?
Clark's Business Colleges, Erie,
and Buflalo, have issued a beautiful
eight page circular, announcing the
Fall Oiiening, wliich takes place Au-
gust 24. Graduating exercises will
be held in the Park Opera House,
Erie, Pa., on the afternoon of August
24, and a very fine programme of
speeches and music has been ar-
ranged. Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, of
Brooklyn, N. Y,. will address the
graduating class and deliver a lecture
in the evening, entitled, "Bright and
Happy Homes." The circular will
be mailed to any address gratuitously.
S. A. Drake begins, with this num-
ber, a series of lessons on prac-
tical penmanship, and now is the
time to subscribe in order to receive
the full course of lessons.
We believe that The American
Penman will present to its readers an
unusually good course in practical
writing, one such as everybody will
appreciate, and those who follow the
instructious mil receive many valu-
able points that cannot be otherwise
than of great interest to them.
LESSON IN PENMANSHIP.
BY S. A. DRAKE.
No. I.
Those who would profit by inKtrue-
tion in writing must have a just appre-
ciation of the value of skill in the art,
and they must also realize the truth of
the fact, th.at all who give a reasonable
degree of attention and perseverance to
the study o! practical writiuff, cannot be
disappointed of their aim. The opinion
held by many, that the ability to write
well is a "natural gift" is true only of
the higher departments of the art, or
wbat may be styled ornamental penman^
shij}, and is not true in regard to plain
rapid writing, which can be as easily
acquired as any other simple mechani-
cal skill.
One who has decided to enter upon
the study of writinif should adopt some
one course of instruction, and follow it
implicitly and systematically, at least,
until he lias gained sufficient knowledge
of the subject to employ judiciously and
understandingly the useful suggestions
of various methods. While any one of
the different methods might produce the
desired results, a confusion of them
would not be likely to lead to any de-
gree of success, as any one of differing
courses of medical treatment may be
the means of restoring and preserving
health, a conjunction of courses of
treatment would no doubt result dis-
astrously. An instructor in any branch
of education is supposed to have made
the branch a subject of study and inves-
tigation with a view to the discovery of
the most direct and efficient means of
guiding others to a knowledge of the
same, and that pupil who follows care-
fully the guidance of the teacher is
most likely to do well.
The lessons which have appeared from
time to time in the Penman have dealt
with the subject of writing in a manner
more likely to interest advanced learn-
ers than any other class, in that the les-
sons present outlines of methods of
teaching, and suggestions, rather than
detailed instruction suitable for those
who have not had the opportunity of
studying penmanship, but who deMre
to improve their handwriting. The fol-
lowing lesson and those to appear in
subsequent numbers of the Penman,
will be designed to present a complete
course, introducing the principles, and
letters, with a careful analysis of each,
and words and exercises adapted to the
development of a plain rapid, hand
writing.
In the first place, it is quite essential
that the learner be provided with good
writing materials, smooth, heavy fools
cap paper, free-flowing ink, and fine
pointed elastic pens. The table or desk
used, should be targe enough to allow
the paper, and arms forward of the
elbows to rest full upon it.
POSITION. '
The writer should place liis i-iiair so
that its front edge will be even with the
edge of the table; and sitting erect, be-
ing careful to keep the back straight,
with his arms resting on the table, he
has the best possible position for writ-
ing. The pen should be held by the
thumb, and first two fingers. The
thumb bending outward slightly, should
press lightly against the side of the
holder opposite the first joint of the fore
finger the end of which rests on top of
the holderabout an inch and a half from
the point of the pen which crosses the'
second finger at the roots of the finger-
nail. The third and fourth fingers
should be bent under slightly— not
clasped tightly— so that they may serve
OS a rest for the hand, while the ends of
the finger nails enable the hand to sUdf
easily over the paper. -
J
I
The movement to be employed in
writing is a matter of nmch itnportance
to the student, and he should endeavor
to gain a perfect understanding of the
different writing movements, and to
bring into use that which is best adap^
ted to the style of penmanship he ltf[^
aiming to execute. The finger mov0^^
jiicnt, which consists in contracting and
extending the fingers holding the pen,
when forming the letters, is most com-
mou and seems to be the most natural
movement, which is due. perhaps, to the
fact that all persons first learn to use >
the pencil, which requires a firmer graap''
and greater pressure than is necessary
in the use of the pen, and having a&-
quired faciUty with the fingers, and
having no hnowledge of a better move-^
ment, it is consequently employed in a1|^
writing. Many serious objections may^
be raised against this movement, and it
should be entirely discarded by those
who would acquire an easy, graceful
style. That best adapted to practioa^V
writing is the forearm ■movcmcnty m^
which the hand, impelled by a rolling
motion of the muscular part of the fore-
arm, slides on the ends of the third and
fourth fingers, its only support. Thlfl
movement is admirably suited to the
execution of plain, rapid writing, and la
used exclusively by many of the best
professional penmen, which proves Iti
excellence in other departments of t^
art. The student should give niuche
tention at first to the cidtivatio
movement, as it makes tlie practUj
much easier in consequence of the urm^i
resting in an easy position on the tabl^
and no grasp or action of the flngeii|
being required.
The combined viovement is a
the finger and the forearm movemeatt
The wholearm mavcmenf consists
carrying the arm clear from the tablq
the third and fourth fingers sliding a
furnishing a support for the hand. Th
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
19 used chiefly in executing large floui^ } space in lueafiuring the height of letters,
iahed capitals. It may be employed to
advantage by some in first learning
tiie position of the pen and hand, and
in getting a start in the foreanu move-
ment, and especially by those who have
contracted the habit of resting the hand
on its side in contact with the paper,
preventing, thereby, a free gliding move-
ment, which is so essential to smooth,
graceful writing. The wholearm move-
ment compells the writer to turn the
hand to the left, resting it on the third
and fourth fingers and bringing the
liolder in direct line with the shoulder.
After practicing for a time with the arm
in this position, he will find it quite tir-
ing and will be very likely to bring the
arm to a rest on the table, and by con-
tinuing the motion of the hand and arm
in thig position, he has the forearm move-
ment.
Assuming the correct position for the
forrnrin inovcmtnt, the student shoidd
begin by making parallel lines from left
to right nearly across the paper, which
may be followed by practice on the oval
, presented below. T
may be reversed. After considerable
practice on these exercises, he is pre-
pared to take up the study of the small
letters which are most simple in form.
I w*hile the smalt
width The learner should give consid-
erable time to the study of each separate
letter before he undertakes to make it.
He must have a clear conception of the
form of the letter, before he can hope to
place a copy of that form on the paper.
He must know the form he wishes to
make before he can expect to make it,
and he can gain such knowledge only
by study, caitiesf study of the letters.
He must observe the slant, the height,
the width of each letter; and which lines
are curved, and which are straigth; which
turns are angular and which are oval;
which strokes are heavy, and which are
light. Many students of writing find
their efforts fruitless in consequence of
their not recognizing the fact that care-
ful study must be combined with prac-
tice to secure improvement. In the
above manner, the learner should en-
deavor to master each letter, taking
them up in the order in which they are
presented in the copies. Not less than
an hour should be devoted to each let-
ter before the next is attempted. After
the i has been well learned let it be fol-
lowed by the u in like manner, after
which, these letters may be combined
and practiced together. The next in
order is the u, in which the first three
I)rinciples are used. The ascending
convex curves, the descending
ight. and the finishing line a
curve. The turns at the top
oval, at the base, angular, except
that the lines be not allowed to coincide,
but that they be kept separate and dis-
tinct. The hue joining two oval turns
is usually a compound curve, or a con-
vex and a concave curve combined.
Many of the letters may be used in
exercises similar to the following, which
are admirably adapted to the develop-
ment of the forearm movement which
mere assertions of its value and utility
We, like the writer, believe in reasoning
from cause to effect, but in the present
instance, we do not think it at all neces-
sary to enter into a philo>4ophi<-al discus-
sion of the relations of mind and matter,
the influence of mind force, or why the
mind can act to better advantage
through the agency of the nmscles,
when the arm is resting, than raised
from the table. This sort of Teasoning
lines str.
The above cut presents
the principles which, with
slight modifications, may
be so combined as to make
all the letters of the alpha-
bet. The first is an obli-
que straight line, forming
with the base line an an-
gle of fifty-two degrees,
giving a slant that is gen-
erally recognized as the
standard best adapted to
practical writing, hence it
ib called the main slant.
The second principle is a
concave curve, and the
the general slant of both
being thirty-five degrees
roni the base line. The
fourth principle it* the loop
used in fonnin^r the I,
h, and similar letters, and
being inverted constitutes
a part of the .*/, g, and others. This prin- 1 tbe last which is oval. The m
ciple is simply a union of the second I As the list increases, short
and first principles, extending a third of
an inch above the base line. The fifth
is the oval, one third of an inch high,
its width equaling two thirds of its
height. The sixth principle is the oval
inverted. The seventh is the capital
stem. In forming this begin at a point
one-third of an inch above the base
line and descend in a convex curve half
way where the line is changed to a con-
cave and completed in the oval.
shoidd be employed exoluoively in the
work of this lesson. If the student is
diligent, and masters thoroughly each
step, the copies herein presented will
furnish sufficient work to engage his
attention for a long time.
Those who, by a desire to improve
their hand-writing, are constrained to
enter upon a course of study for that
purpose, would do well to consider the
fact that their efforts will be fruitless
unless they labor diligently and syste-
matically, giving due attention to de-
tails, though seeming trifles, for "trifles
make perfection, and perfection is no
trifle."
DuBUijUK, lA., July 10. 1880.
Dear Editor Clark :
I am always delighted to see and read
philosophic articles, and scientific rea-
soning on the subject of penmanship.
It does me good to know that we have
is of little interest to the general reader,
and the business world cares nothing
for it. In ascertaining the amount of
good that results from acting upon an
established theory, we first look for re-
sults, and if they are satisfactory, we
are apt to believe that their causes are
without fault. When such rich fruits
can be gathered from mustmlar move-
ment practice, we know that the causes
that are operating in producing them,
are certainly reliable ones, and that if
the theory were without foundation, the
fact would soon be discovered by the
thousands that are practicing it every
day. Elegantly produced script forms
must have a cause that creates and calls
them into being.and we are just as cer-
tain of its existance, as if we delved into
the regions of speculative philosophy,
in order to analyze and examine its es-
its essence and the quality of its force.
The advantages of the muscular, over
the whole arm or finger movements,
have been so often recited, that it is not
necessary to refer to them, and it is a
wonder to me that any intelligent per-
son can for a moment doubt the super-
iority of this niuch talked of method of
moving the hand, arm and
fingers in using the pen.
right.
Will D. Showa
THR.
ig was photo-engraved frorr
3. is a student in the Penm;
College, Erie, Pa., and is a
s similar.
volving the letters that have been
studied, may be taken up for practice.
It will be observed tliat the first part of
the w is like the u. while the openin
the latter part is but half a space wide,
and finished with a t-oncave curvi
carried down from the top of th(
letter one-fourth of a space. The v i
similar to the latter part of the w. Thi
loops in the c and c are one-third of i
space wide, and the descending lines
The letter i is presented first in the
above copies, as it is most simple in fonn,
iind easily learned. The fii-st ascending
line is the second principle, with which
!>* united at the top, in an angle, the
first, and with this, the second is again
united in an oval turn. The letter is
•■ompleted by placing a dot at a distance
above the anglt* equal to the length of the
first principle. For convenience in pro-
l)ortioning the letters, the / is taken as
the unit of measurement and is called a
but slightly curved. The r and a are
one-fourth of a space higher than the
other short letters, and the width of
each at its middle point is one-half
space. The o is one-half space wide
and closed at the top. The ascending
stroke in the a is a convex curve carried
full two spaces to the right with a simi-
lar curve downward, carried back to
the left one space. The oval in the a
is half a space wide. Where angular
turns are used, care should be taken
men in our profession of solid intellect-
ual attainments, and true mental cul
ture. Such men are an honor to any
calling in which they may be engaged,
and to such we owe whatever of dignity
our vocation possesses. It is always taken
for granted that a calling or profession
in which there are thinkers, is one of an
elevated nature, for in no other can they
find proper material for scientific invest-
igations, and for the exercise and de-
velopment of the rea.soning faculties of
the mind.
There are many earnest thinkers in
our midst, and it is but proper that they
receive the praise that is justly due them.
Prominent among those who have al-
ways been the leaders of philosophic
discussions, stands the author of an
anonymous article which recently ap-
peared in the columns of the Penmate's
Art Journal, under the caption of "The
Muscular Bugaboo." As usual in the
productions of this well known contribu-
tor to Chirographic Literature, the style
is finished and forcible, but just the ar- 1
gument the author wishes to produce is '
dilTlcult for me to discover. It is evi- I
dent, however, that he is opposed to the
modern muscular movement crusade,
and while he believes, to a certain extent, |
lie muscular action of the arm, he
desires something more substantial, as
proof of the merits of this theory, than
You take a basin of wa-
ter, place your fingers in
it twenty-five or thirty sec-
onds, take it out and look
at the hole that is left.
The size of that hole re-
presents about the impres-
sion that advice makes on
a voung man's mind.
bon't depend too nmch
on your fauiily— the dead
part I mean. The world
wants live men ; it ha,'* no
use for dead ones, (^ueen
Victoria can trace her an-
cestors back in a direct
line to AVilliam the Con-
queror. If you cannot get
_ — - further back than your
father you are better off.
, Your father was a better man than
old William. He had better clothes
to wear, better food to eat, and was
better housed
If vou are a diamond be sure that you
will be found. Cheek, brass, or gall
never gets ahead of merit.
I love a young man who is straight
forward. Ask for what ytfu want. If
you want to marry a rich man's daughter
or borrow $500 from him, ask him for
it ; it amounts to the same thing in the
end. It is always better to astonish a
man than to bore him.
Remember that in the morning of life
comes the hard working days. Hard
work never killed a man. It's fun, rec-
reation, relexation, holidays that kill.
The fun that results in a head the next
morning so big that a tub could hardly
Hard work i
e after u
what kills.
Those who come after us have to work
just as hard as we do. When I shovel
"' e snow off my sidewalk, if perchance
take a three-quarter piece off my
neighbor's walk. I put it back, because
if I didn't I should be doing him an in-
justice.
You can't afford to do anything but
^ood. You are on dress parade
all the time.
Don't be afraid of pounding persis-
tently at one thing. Don't be afraid of
being called a one-idea man or a crank.
If you have one idea, you have more
Subscribe for The American Pkn
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The AnieriGafi Pentnan,
Published Monlhiy at 60c Per Year,
By Clark & Johnecr.. Proprietora. Erie.
Pa., and Buffalo, N Y.
SlDBle copies oT THK ambbu-a.n Penman wUl be
mnllcil to any addreaa on receipt of e ctnts. Sam-
ple copies until Innlicr notice sent tree.
ADVERTISING RATES.
Thk population of Chicago
nnted at 7-50.000.
A NATIONAL
The .500tli birthday of the Republic
of Switzerland was celebrated on Mon-
day, July 5th.
p colnmn »'• 00; f65 00 fioo OO |1«
, and no discount 1
given on Beading Matter Kates.
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
PREMIUMS.
i remlttlDg Ont
nnlll further notlc«. miUl a copy ol l
Clark's Progressive Rook-keeplng au
tialf
persons tnterestlng
1 BendlBg c
e eending tl
< on all Bnbscrlptlona
Pekuan. We prefei
e eecurlng clubs, ant
forwarded to The Ambbic
to give cash premiums to '
mis rule win be invarlaWy followed.
Jteminances should be made by N. T. Draft,
Monej Order, PoslBl Note, or BeglBtered Letter,
CLARK &. JOHNSON,
Publishers. Erie. P
PROF.
ILL.
We are under obligations to Prof.
S. S. Packard of New York, for a copy
of a pamphlet styled "A Souvenir,"
containing a full rej^ort of the twenty-
eighth anniversary of his popular
Business College. The contents di-
vulges the factthalMr.Packard himself
made a speech — which is published —
d it seems that he is fully equal to
the requirements of an orator. The
book is beautifully printed in two
colors, and contains the invocation,
by Bishop Harris, addresses by Dr. J.
H. Vincent, Mr. Wise, Rev. C. H. Ea-
ton, and concludes with an illustrated
story on Practical evolution. Mr.
Packard is an exemplary man, worthy
of the success he has attained, and an
honor to the business educators' fra-
ternity.
Life scholarships are now issued by
but three or four schools within our
knowledge, and it is a matter of infinite
surprise that any intelligent school man
will do so unbuBiness like a thing. It is
a rediculous confession to make that
three years' tuition is worth no mors
than a three months' course, but that if
the irrisistible logic of their tuition fee,
— Bochesfcr Commercial Review.
> BUFFALO, N. Y., JULY,
BRIEF MENTION.
R. C. Spencer, of Milwaukee, called
liere on his way home from the con-
vention.
Prof. G. Bixler, of Wooster, Oh^
encloses his subscription in a well
written letter. He also favors us with
a copy of his book, "Physical Train-
ing in Penmanship," and a few cards
and business writing specimens, all of
which are vers' creditable.
F. C. Smith, Fenton, Mich., writes a
beautiful letter, and is evidently in-
terested in the success of the Ameki-
CAN Penman.
Many of our young ladies and gen-
tlemen who are graduating at the various
colleges and seminaries at the present
time expect to accomplish with the brain
that which took the united efforts of
both hand and brain of their fathers.
This is certainly one of the greatest de-
lusions and absurdities of modern educa-
tion, for no education can approach per-
fection unless both hand and brain are
trained to work in unison. A good, sound,
sensible mind has never been found out-
side of a sound body; hence the educa-
tion of one without the proper educa-
tion of the other is an utter impossibility.
A man may be profoundly learned and
understand the whole gamut of the dead
languages and not be able to make out
a bill of sale or harness a horse if hie life
depended on it. That such education
which leaves out every item of the prac-
tical every-day affairs of life is a blunder
and a curse it needs no labored argument
or mathematical demonstration to pro
Every walk and sphere in life has the
victims of such a nonsensical system,
Happily for all those who wish to securt
an education which is both practical and
useful there are many well equipped
institutions of learning which are ready
and wilUng to give them a course of in-
struction which they will need every day
and hour of their lives. That our busi-
ness colleges are giving the people a very
good equivalent for their money is an
acknowledged fact. These long derided,
abused and vilified institutions are a
power in the land. Their constituents,
which to-day number hundreds of thous-
ands, have abundantly demonstrated
furnishing one of the most
debt of gratitude to our business colleges
which have never yet been properly aji-
preciated. But we hope and trust that
before many years shall pass that legis-
lation will give honor where honor
is due. by giving practical education
the recognition of which its usefulness
proves it deserving.
We are not surprised at the above
statement, but we are confessedly ig- j ^jj^^ ^^^y
norant of any college issuing a life j important educational needs for the peo-
scholarship^at claims alhrea^yeajs' I pie, which is a practical, ^^^'^^^^^^^^^
course ns necessary to complete the ] ^^°^- ^^^l^^^ " **""" ''"
terms of such a scholarship. It is
generally understood that a young
or lady who is competent to en-
ter upon the business course, should,
if diligent, graduate in from three to
six months, and according to the
Commercial Review, it is advisable for
business colleges to manage to length-
en out the course or procrastinate the
same, to about three years, which
would cost the average student for
the three months' term of S30 at least
8360— a net gain to the college keep-
ing a student in attendance for that
length of time of «300 to $330.
II is unfortunate for some scliools
that they do not issue life scholar
ships, and in certain instances, it may
be unwise for business colleges to fol-
low up the life scholarship plan. But
ns every college has the right to man-
age its own alTairs, as it deems best,
W. D. Showalter, penman at Bay- ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^j^^ ^;^^^ life scholar-
liss Business College, Dubuque, Ja.,. j^.^^^ ^^ j^ ^^,^^ satisfaction to th.
says, " We take, read and like The
American Penman. All of us unite
in wishing you unbounded success in
your laudable educational and jour-
nalistic efforts."
Paul H. Hayne, the poet, who died
recently, was a nephew of the noted
South Carohnian, with whom Webster
had his famous debate.
Sixty-five of the seventy-six mem-
bere of the United States Senate are
lawyers. Of the Senate of Pennsylva-
nia* twenty-five of the fifty members
:'re lawvers.
icliool issuing it, and to the pur-
cliaser as well, is not the wisest means
of adjusting tuition rates. Of course
we do not wish to be underetood as
saying that a college must not dis-
criminate between two classes who
patronize the business colleges, viz.:
those who are advanced sufKciently
in the English branches to take up
cial course, and those who
; not.
Read the advertisement of the Grand
Opening of Clark's Business Colleges on
the sixth page. The best of advantages
offered.
', they d6'Vot*undi
I take to give to any one an education
that can never be used in the active
duties of every day life in this work-a-
day world of ours, where knowledge is a
power indeed. And thanks to the keen
perception, the profound
of the American people, such
tion has received such abundant and
marvelous support that to-day it is a
great national blessing. For be it re-
membered that although we are six bil-
lion dollars richer than the richest nation
on earth, that in the riches of intelli
gence and practical education, which i
infinitely the greatest measure by which
to test the popular progress and great-
ness of a nation we are head and shoul-
ders above any nation on earth. Ameri-
ca has many names to inscribe on her
educational roll of honor which have
long been the pride and admiration of
the world, and to none will the people
look with greater pride, reverence or
joy than to those veteran pioneers who
through defeat, darkness and discour-
agement, pushed forward, overcoming
what seemed insurmountable obstacles.
All honor to those veterans whose heroic
fortitude, unswerving energy, and in-
indomitable courage acccomplished such
wonders for educational purposes. The
world's history will be vainly searched
for a comparison.
While practical education lias
doubtedly been of uncalculable benefit
to the people, it has been of infinite ben-
efit to our goverrnuent. which is enabled
to do its business much better tl:
was done in former years,and far better
than any other nation on earth to-day,
which is a great national blessing. No
nation on earth has grown rich and pros-
pered like our own, which fact is owing
in a great measure to the sturdy honesty
and practical methods adopted in doing
its business and in dealing with nations
and individuals. For this she owes n
LABOR, NOT LUCK. .
In this age of eulightemuetit it is be- ^^
coming absolutely necessary for a young
man or woman to have a good education •"
if he or she wishes to make a successful
fight in this world of business activity.
With the telegraph, telephone, railroad,
etc.. to assist in doing business t^uiokly,
there is no tuue to spare in getting by
experience what can be gained in a short
time at school. Many are seeing this and
fitting themselves for the many places
that must be filled by some one.
Business men are not slow in seeing
this, and when they want a young man or
woman for their office or store, they look
for one that has been trained for such
duties, as such a one will more readily
grasp the work and take less time in
learning the duties assigned.
To all, and especially those whose time
is limited, the business colleges of our
land are a great boon. Here, at a small
outlay of time and money, one can ob-
tain a knowledge of business and busi-
ness principles that will be of inestimable
benefit in after life, in whatever business
? may follow. In no other way can
young man or woman make an invests
ment of a little time and money that will
produce sucli large returns, as by pursn-
ing the thorough and practical course of
training offered by our business colleges.
If you would acquire position and com-
petency you must be willing to qualify
yourself for a place that will lead to such
a result. No person, in any calling in
life, ever succeeded, who was unwilling
to make an effort. Success is the result
of labor, not of luck. C. F. M.
CRITICISM.
We doubt not that the majority of
people are adverse to criticism. Yet
through good, honest criticism are w*
enabled to advance. It is true thatthero
is a certain kind of criticism—that from
ignorant pretenders— which, to say the
least, is unpleasant.
It is not of criticism in general that wo
are to speak, but more particularly of
criticism as applied to penmanship.
However, in the application of criticism
to penmanship, we readily see that it
differs very little from criticism in gen-
eral. Criticism is never of value unless
intelligent. This important fact l0
overlooked by too many would-be orltlQAi .
Hence, if criticism is to be of value to
the student of penmanship, he must
thoroughly understand that which he
would criticise. It is evident, therefore,
that he should first seek a general knowl-
edge of the art. And this knowledge
might be separated into two distincst di-
visions: first, a knowledge of what con-
stitutes good penmanship; second, a
knowledge of the general theories of
penmanship, especially those which re-
late to its acquisition.
Knowing, then, what constitutes good
penmanship, and how best i
aciiuired. he should severely criticise t
work of his pen in both these imporl
relations. To criticise, we mean to 1
and note wherein it differs from th
conceived idea of good writing,
not this alone, but, also, to see and
note faults in the manner of executingli
This habit of constant criticism isn«^*
essary to reach a high degree of skfflL
with the pen. For if the student do^
not see his faults, either of style or
cution, he cannot correct them.
To students of the "neglected
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
! gay: learu to criticise
<. But in your zeal to
correct your faults, do not overlook the
importance of knowing whether your
work needs criticism or not. Get knowl-
pdge first: then fear not to seek out the
faults of your work. Honest criticism
will bf the (-olid stepping stone to higher
imd nime perfect results.
F. S. Heath.
Epson. N. H., June 28. 1888.
EARLY ENGLISH PENMEN.
AURAHA^I NICHOLAS.
[Specially pn-pared for The Ambrioan Pbnuah by
W. il. Lothrop, of South Boston, Mass.]
This elegant i>enman was the son of
Mr. Abraham Nicholas, who kept a
writing school in Bread street. London,
under whom, I presume, he learned his
first rudiments in writing and accounts.
This Mr. Abraham Nicholas, the father,
published from the letter press, a little
piece in octavo, of about fifty pages,
entitled, "The Young Accountant's
Debitor and Creditor." The second edi-
tion, from which I take this account,
was printed in 1713, what use of it since
that time has been made, I cannot say.
There is in this book one piece of his
brother James Nicholas' writing, who
succeeded him, and supports with repu-
tation the boarding school, that he first
established at Clapham. I cannot well
give a greater ecomium of this ingenious
gentleman's performances, than by re-
citing the words of the engraver, in a
letter prefixed to the said book, and ad-
dressed to Mr. John Bowles, a print-
seller, at Mercer's Hall; he says, "he
never saw any pieces that were wrote
with greater comuiand of hand than
originals of that book."'
Mr. Nicholas has two plates likewise,
in "George Bickham's Penman's Com-
panion;" one of Oerman text, and one
in print hand, dated 1722. When he left
Clapham, he went somewhere abroad,
I am informed to Virginia, but in what
employ I have not been informed, only
that he died about the year 1744.
DEEDS.
A FEW FACTS "V
As a figure of speech it may be allc
able to call a deed a title, but ole.
headed business people find figures
country: When laud was sold and to
be transferred, the buyer and the seller
took friends with them as witnesses and
went upon the land, and marked out
togetlier and together indentified and
declared to the witnesses the true boun-
daries, and the seller then broke off a
twig from any tree or bush growing
there or picked up a clod of earth or a
handful of loose soil— any part of the
whole property— andsolemnly delivered
this part to the buyer while the wit-
nesses looked on. Such delivery was
an agreed declaration to all the world
that the title had already passed from
seller to buyer, and that the buyer
should be known hereafter to all men as
the owner. Hence arose this formula,
" Know all men by these presents."
As learning came in, and in every
community there began to be scriveners
and clerks who could write, the bright
idea was born of choosing these rare
men, these writers, as witnesses of land
deliveries, and inducing them to execute
a certificate of what had been done,
which might be preserved for genera-
tions to bridge the awkward gaps made
by death. Still later, since those who
scrawl may be made not only by the
grantor but by any lawyer's clerk, and
may be put on either before or after the
deed is signed and delivered; every
trace of value the seal had has long
since disappeared, yet all the deed is
still but waste paper without the seal,
and in New York the Court of Appeals
has solemnly decided the amount and
kind of the waxy matter which must
form part of the seal! The tithing of
mint, annise and cummin is left far be-
hind. A little more wax in the seal,
and the hundred thousand dollars paid
and taken for a Fiifth Avenue residence
gives a right to it; a Uttle less wax and
the family are homeless, lu the English
courts such refinements are far more
common than on this side of the water;
in fact only a few remain among us,
and happily the tendency is away from
them and in the direction of common
sense. In Iowa, and we believe in one
or two other western states, nearly all
the mere rubbish of conveyancing has
been declared away; the older states
will come in a due course to a like wis-
The above speci
Abrahiain Nicholas the son, was born in
the year 1692. His first appearance in
the world, as far as I can find, as a con-
tributor to the advancement of true and
practical writing, was by setting forth a
small copy book containing various ex-
amples of penmanship. It consists of
fifteen plates, which were engraved by
George Biekham. Tliis seems to be his
first essay that he made public; he lived
then at the hand and pen. in Broad
street, London, 171.'), though the edi-
tion of the book that lies before me, is
dated 1717. In the year 1719. he pub-
lished "The Penman's Assistant, and
Youths' Instructor," containing an al-
phabet of examples in round hand. It
consists of fifteen narrow plates, and has
only two lines on a plate. The engrav-
er's name is not mentioned; but it was
printed for Henry Overton, at the White
Horse, without Newgate. In what year
lif removed to Clapham, 1 cannot say,
but suppose it was soon after the publi-
cation of his last mentioned copy-book;
he there established a flourishing board-
ing school; and Anno Dom. 1722, pub-
lished his Complete Writing Master,
engraved by George Biekham. It con-
tains thirty-one long folio plates, be-
sides his picture in front.
speech rather dangerous in business af-
fairs, and prefer plain facts and plain
names for them.
A title is something indestructible.
Fires cannot burn it nor waters drown
it; neither life nor even death can dis-
turb or change it. Cruelly iuunortal,
it survives every disaster that can touch
physical things, and phoenix like, rises
freshened out of every conflagration.
A title is a high; something wholly
."Spiritual, and can only be affected by
spiritualities. The title of an owner
may be total or shared with others;
may be absolute, or conditioned upon
facts not yet determined,
A deed is an evidence of title. Be-
fore writing was common, written deeds
were then unknown; but titles were then
as good as now. Written evidences of
title have been widely adopted because
of their great convenience, and because
of the general diffusion of learning. It
is very important to remember always
that deeds are only witnesses of title,
and by no means to be confounded with
the title itself. And this will appear
moi'e clearly from a bit of history.
Deeds first came into use in England
in this wise— and we inherit our law,
as we do our language, from our mother
could not write could stamp a seal — and
seals were invented for the illiterate
aristocracy and were used precisely as
we now use "John Smith, hia mar/:"'
the certificate of the witnesses came to
be farther verified by the seals of both
buyer and seller. This addition was a
great advance, because no man could
be permitted to deny his seal, and coun-
terfeiting private seals was then imprac-
ticable and unknown. A sealed certifi-
cate then was the unquestioned act of
the seller or grantor, translated by the
witnesses who could write, and the seal
was the vital and effective soul of the
whole instrument. This form of the in-
strument became established hundreds
and hundreds of years ago, in the very
dawn of English training, and the pro-
gress since made is equivalent to ten
thousand year.s of the history that went
before, and yet to this day the vitality
of a deed (of land;
which may now bi
colored wafers of \
actly alike; the sou
many different seali
a year
KINDLY WORDS
Said of "The An
I Penrr
the seal,
of a thousand
of papers ex-
two of them alike — or he may
use seals exactly Uke those of his neigh-
bor: indeed in many states any scrawl
of a pen may be called the seal, and this
The American Penman, published
by Messrs. Clark & Johnson. Erie, Pa ,
and Buffalo, N. Y., is a coniparitively
late venture in the line of chirographic
journalism. It has started off well and
exhibits a considerable degi-ee of jour-
nalistic ability. We welcome its monthly
visits to our sanctum and wish it success.
Jacksonville, (III j College Record.
Glaiik's Proghbssivk Book-keep-
ing. — This is the heading of a very fine
text book on the subject shown in the
title. It is accurate in expression, prac-
tical in arrangement and progressive in
character. The leading rules can be
highly commended for simplicity and
clearness. It is intended for self-in-
struction as well as school purposes. It's
lucid statement and nice gradation will
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Tl)lrd Grand 0|)€tiiug f,^'° Graduatitig Exercises
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Rev, Dr, T, De Witt TalmagE'
of New York, will address the class, and deliver ;
entitled " Bright and Happy Homes."
An excellent and attractive programme of speeches and music bus been
arranged, which will delight every one who is present.
Dr Talmago will s|)t'uk in
Buffalo, Under the Auspices of the College, August 25th, 1886.^
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ERIE. PA., and BUFFALO, N. Y.. SEPTEMBER, 1886. Vol. l— No. 9.
Graduating Exercises of
Clark's Business
College.
Report of the Exercises Held in
Park Opera House, Tuesday
Afternoon, August 24,
THK FROGRAIVIME.
Address to tin* Graduates by the
Famous Orator, Rev. T, De
Witt Talmage, of Brook-
lyn. N. Y.
Tla.e Eacc-CLxsion. .A.ij.g'. EStli.
Never before in the liistory of
Clark's Business College was there
ever assembled, to witness the closing
exercises, such a large, refined and
appreciative audience, as Park Opera
House contained Tuesday afternoon,
August 24tli.
Promptly at 3:30 o'clock, Knoll's
Orchestra played one of their finest
selections, when the curtain went up,
and tlie audience saw the graduating
class seated on the left, and the faculty
and prominent speakers on the right
of the stage. The decorations were
superb, being pronounced the finest
ever seen in Erie. A large arch made
of wire and trimmed with evergreen,
iidorned the ii'ont of the stage, meet-
ing at a point in the center, from
which was suspended the class motto,
in the form of a wreath, the letters
worked in white llowers, which read
:is follows: ''Skill is Capital." At
tither end of the ^tjige and in front,
were to be seen an abundance of
beautiful plants and flowers, that
added greatly to the attractions of the
])lace.
The following programme was fully
carried out, and a better pleased audi-
ence could not be found :
Music by Knoll's Orchkstra.
March, .... Schlcpcgrcl
Invocation, . Rev. W. H. Pcarce
Concert Overture, . Hcinsdorf
Salutatory, . Miss P. P. Stan-
Conckrt Solo— Sea Flower Polka,
J.F. Knoll
Resources and Liabilities, .
O. W. Schlindwein
Mariana Waltz, Waldtmfel
Address. . Hon. J. F. Downing
Jluitkr Overture^ Hoffman
Address, . IF. P. Davcnjtort, E&q.
Wedding March (from Lohengrin)
Wayner
Valedictory, , . C. P. Mallory
Home Circle Overtubb, Schtcpcgrel
Address and Presentation of
Diplomas,
Hon. F. A. Mizener, Mayor of the City
of Erie.
Near Thee— Waltz, . Watdteufel
Words of Cheer, ....
Pev. T. De Witt Talmage
Pearls of Dew. . Debueris
Benediction, . Pcv. J. C. Wilson
ORAD UATES—CLaaa of ISSH.
Baker, Jaines M., Ja(?ksonburg, O.
Berkenkamp, J. H.. East Millcreek,Pa.
Bell, Clayton A., Harborcreek, Pa.
Bouseay, Myrtie, Erie, Pa.
Coover, P. W.. Waterford, Pa.
Carlson, A. C, Erie, Pa.
Carpenter, A. L., Mercer, Pa.
Case, S. R., Buffalo. N. Y.
Chapman, Ralph, Erie, Pa.
Conrad, W. W., Erie, Pa.
Daly, J. W., Ashtabula Harbor, O.
Davie, George G., Fairview, Pa.
Foote, Frank W.. ButTalo, N. Y.
Frey, C. S., Springboro, Pa. '
Gourlay, Frank L., Waterford, Pa.
Granger, Gid, Erie, Pa.
Holder, F. B., Waterford, Pa.
Holder, 0., Waterford, Pa.
Heintz, F. T., Erie, Pa.
Highmyer. F. R„ Erie. Pa.
Hanson. T. S.. Edinboro, Pa,
Jackson, D. M., Yoimgsville, Pa.
Krull. S. J., Clarence Centre, N. Y.
Liniuger, E. D., Harborureek, Pa.
Leiter, N. J., East Clarence, N. Y.
Leslie, B. O., Kossuth, Pa.
Munz, W., Erie. Pa.
Miller, Wm., Cincinnati, O,
Moorhead, Jas. M., Moorheodville, Pa.
Millspaw, W. D., Edinboro, Pa.
Mallorv, C. P., Erie. Pa.
Munn, W. B., Erie. Pa.
Mills. G. E.. West Millcreek.
McLallen, Frank, Wesleyville, T
O'Lone, Wm, F., Erie, Pa.
Parks, J. J., Buffalo, N. Y.
Patei
, Pa.
Pond, DoraM., Conneaut, O.
Power, C. M., Franklin, Pa.
Ritt, George L., Buffalo, N Y. I
Robinson, F. A , Mercer. Pa. '
Robinson, George S., Lowville. Pa. |
Reed. Wm, G., Erie, Pa. j
Ryan. John C, Mill Grove, N. Y. !
Sloan, F. H., Erie, Pa.
Shenk, William. Erie, Pa.
Smith. C. W.. Franklin, Pa.
Stiicker. H. H.. Evie, Pa.
Sherwood. C. G., McLane, Pa.
Schlindwein, Willie, Erie, Pa.
Stoughton, Wm. R., Franklin, Pa.
Starr, Miss P. P., Fredonia, N. Y.
Srhilling, M., Wesleyville, Pa.
Waxelbaum, Max, Erie, Pa.
Walker, C. P., Harborcreek. Pa.
Watkins, George, Buffalo, N. Y.
Weschler, M. A , Erie, Pa.
Warner, B. M., Girard, Pa.
The music was exceptionally good.
The salutatory by Miss P. P. Starr, of
Fredonia, N. Y., was excellent. Wil-
lie Schlindwein, the youngest grad-
uate sent out from the College, pre-
sented the subject of " Resources and
Liabilities " in a manner becoming a
much older and experienced person.
The audience were agreeably surprised
at hearing him.
The addresses by Hon. J. P. Down-
ing, W. R. Davenport, Esq., and the
presentation of the diplomas by the
Hon. Jas. R. Burns, on behalf of
Mayor Mizener, were of a high order
of excellence, and judging from the
applause, the audience considered
them most favorably.
Tlie valedictory, by Mr. 0. P. Mal-
lory, was delivered in a masterly
mannei".
When the Rev. T. De Witt Talmage
arose to address the Graduating Class,
the whole building fairly shook with
applause. His address in full was as
follows :
Pr<t»ident Clark-, Ladies and Ocnttemen,
Officers and Students of this Business
College.
If we leave to the evolutionists to
guess where we came from, and to the
theologians to prophesy where we are
going to, we still have left for considera-
tion the fact that we are here, and here
under more interesting circumstances.
I am glad to be here on Commencement
Day. It is a grand day. I never had
such a day as the day I graduated.
Such interests cluster around a moment
like this. I wish to utter words of cheer,
.IS I have been announced to utter them
on the programme of the occasion. Let
me say to all young folks, there was
never such a time to start out in life as
now. Of all the centuries, this is the
best century; of all the decades of the
century, this is the best decade: of all
the years of the decade, this is the best
year; and of all the months of the year,
thi!* is the boat month; and of all thu
days of the montli, this is the best day.
[Applause.] It took all tBr'age.** to
make this minute possible.
I congratulate this College, and I cou-
gMituIate these young men and these
yming women. I have been looking at
them while I sat here. I can tell that
they mean honest work, and the world
will ojien before them and the victory
will be achieved. There never has been
such a time to start out as now, becarfse
all the doors are opening New America
is being discovered. Columbus discov-
ered only the shell of America; Agassiz
came and discovered fossiliferous Ameri-
ca ; Silliman discovered geological
America; Longfellow dicovered poetic
America, and there are half a dozen
Americas yet to be discovered. Some of
these will discover them. England for
manufactures, Germany for scholarship,
France for manners, but the United
States for God. [Great applause.]
Each one of these young people will
get a call from God to do some one thing
that no one else in the universe can do,
Talk about ministers getting a call from
God to preach; all of them must; but
every person gets a call from God to do
some one thing. It is all written in the
physical, or mental, or spiritual eonsti- ,J
tutiou. Out of the fourteen hundred
millions of the race, there is not one
that can do your work. You do your
work, and it is done forever; you neglect
it, and it is neglected forever; and the
person sent on the meanest mission has
a magnificent errand. God sends no
one on a fool's errand. Find out just
what you are to do; get your call direct-
ly from the throne of God to do some
one thing; then marshal all your facul-
ties and opportunities and gather them
into companies and regiments and bat-
tallious; then ride along the line and
give the word of command, "Forward,
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
march," and there is no power on earth
or hell that can utand before you. [Ap-
plause.]
Reuiember, among other tbings, it is
always !>afe to do right and never safe to
do wrong. 1 know you have come to a
crisis where, by a divergence of one inch
from the right path, you may think
nay 1
will
make it ail right with my employer; 1
will fix this all up; no one shall lose a
farthing by what I am going to do, and
I will step a little aside from the path of
integrity."' If such an awful moment
comes in your heart, and there be such
a santanie influence brought to bear
upon you, remember it is the turning
point in your life. You can never afford
to do wrong under any circumstances.
There is a law of Almighty (rod that
means success to honesty and truth and
faithfulness, and it means eternal smash-
up to all that get out of that path.
[Applause.] In the city of Boston there
whether or not they were Middlesex
cloths. [Applause ]
Just start out with the idea of success.
You are going to succeed. What does
that mean, a large number of dollars ?
Not necessarily. I have seen a house
with thirty rooms in it, and a vestibule
of perdition ; and a home with two rooms
in it, and with a vestibule of Heaven.
You cannot tell by the size of a man's
house the size of bis happiness. I say
to these young men in all earnestness,
and among other requisites for success
in life, when the lime comes, marry a
good, honest woman, one who will stand
by you in the contests of life. I have
seen them over and over again. I have
seen the success of people that I could
not understand on the start. They did
not seem to have any special elements
of success, but there were reasons at
home why they succeeded. There never
has been a time since the creation of
the world when there were as many
your wife will be poor, and your child
will be poor." The young man looked
at his pale wife, and the tears ran down
his cheeks as he said: " No, sir. she has
been the same to me all though." We
want to throw away all sentimentality on
this subject, all mere theory on this sub-
ject. My friends, establish homes ;
homes, that is what we want; the right
kind of homes.
"Courage, brother, do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night,
There's a star to guide the humble,
Trust in God and do (he right.
Some will love ihee, some will hate ihce.
Some will flatter, some will slight.
Cease from man and look above thee.
Trust in God and do the right,"
If you do not find openings just here,
come East or go West. There is a place
marked out for you just as certain as
you are there, my brother; just as cer-
tain as you are there, my sister; a place
hogs. [Great laughter and applause.}
If you feel strong, go to the North; if
your throats are delicate, go to the
South; if you feel crowded and want
room, go West; if you are tempted to
become ofHce-seekers, go to Jail. [Laugh-
ter.] Anything you want you can have
in this country. I have 850,000 new rea-
sons for saying this; 850,000 people came
in one year from the other side of the
water to live in America. If this had
not been the best land to live in tliere
would have been 850,000 Americans
going to the other side of the water to
live, and all this land to lie under one
government. The nations at the south
gradually crumbling into our own, and
then on the north, after a while, beauti-
ful and hospitable Canada, to whom the
United States will offer heart and hand
in marriage; and when the United
States government sJiall offer hand and
heart in marriage to beautiful and lios-
pitable Canada, Canada will blush and
The above sped
uted by H. C. Clark.
was a young man selling goods behind '
the counter, and a man came in and
asked for Middlesex cloths. He says,
" We haven't any Middlesex cloths, but
here are cloths just as good."' "No,"
said the man before the counter. "I
want Middlesex cloths." "Well," he
says. "We haven't got theui." And so
he departed. The head man of the firm
who had heard the interview, came
down and said : " What did that man
want ?" " He wanted Middlesex cloths."
"Why didn't you tell him those were
Middlesex cloths V" " Because they were
not." He says, "You can take your hat
and get out of this establishment; you
are too honest for this place." And he
took his hat and got out, and went to
the far West and achieved ten times the
fortune his employer in Boston ever
had. And the time will come. I don't
know just when, but as certainly as you
sit there, and I stand here, the time will
come when in the presence of an assem-
l)led universe, it will be found out
good honest women as now, [Applause.]
and the man is a fool that don't get one
of them. [Applause,] I do hope none
of you will ever have the experience of
the man who said he had three wives,
and one was very rich, and another
very handsome, and the other had an
uncontrollable temper; so, says he. "I
have had the world, the flesh and the
devil." Ciet rightly affianced in life.
Don't hang your happiness on the color
of a cheek or the brightness of an eye.
When a man marries he marries for
Heaven or hell. That is especially so
when a woman marries. [Laughter.]
A city missionary in London said to a
young man as he entered the man's
house, and here was the young man and
the wife and child on the floor, and all
signs of destitution and poverty and
wretchedness in the house. "Don't you
think now you made a mistake in iiiarry-
mg so early ? You ought first to have
achieved a fortune and then married.
Now you will be poor all your days, and
marked out for you for life by an al-
mighty God, who knew your tempera-
ment and all your temptations, and
knows all about you better than you
know yourself. A sphere of duty and of
success marked out, and you Just have
to put yourself in the line of the Divine
leadings. If you are happy here you
will be happy forever.
All parts of this land are openings
now as never before. Do not stop at
any one point and say, because things
are filled up, professions here and mer-
chan<lise there, and this here and that
there; go farther, and look out this
lanil. We are just opening the outside
doors of the wealth of this country.
Michigan wheat for the bread, Pennsyl-
vania coal for the fires, fish frum the
Hudson and the Chattanooga, rice from
the Carolinas for the queen of puddings,
poets and philosophers from Boston to
explain to us all that we ought to know;
[Laughter.] oats for the horses, carrots
for the cattle, and oleomargerine for the
look down, and thinking of her allegi-
ance across the sea, will say: "Ask
mother." [Great applause and laugh-
ter.] God will take possession of this
I have exandned your foreheads.
There is enough brain in you, and
enough heart in you, to be hurled on
into great success by the superior powor.
I tell you, my brothers, my sisters. tha6 "*
is most important. I cannot be under ^^
delusion, for I have been in the world
long time and examined things,
seen failures and successes. I thi
there is a great deal in realizing there
a divine superintendence ; it makes
man strong when he knows that he ha»
Almightiness to guide him here, and^
omniscient wisdom to direct him. So, I
believe all the other brothers have said,
I don't know why you want any one to
come from any other place to talk
you, when you have these elotjuent
strong-minded men to address you
these subjects. I believe every
I
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
they uttered, and if I might add to that
grand pyramid that this brother built
up. auythitig at all, I would put on the
top of it, "Faith in God.'' [Applause.]
At the close of Dr. Talmage's ad-
ilress, Rev. J. C. Wilson pronounced
the benediction, and the Third Annual
(iraduating Exercises of Clark's Busi-
ness (College closed in a highly sue
ful and satisfactory manner.
In the evening an audience that
packed Park Opera House from pit to
dome, assembled to hear the lecture
by Rev. T. De Witt Tahnage, entitled
"Bright and Happy Homes."
THE EXOUHSIOX.
The following day (August 25th)
the students and friends of the Col-
lege " took a day off," and enjoyed the
pleasures incident to a grand excur-
sion to Niagara Falls. At 7 o'clock a.
m. Knoll's Celebrated Brass Band as-
sembled in front of the College build-
ing and played one of their fine selec-
tions, after which they marched to
the Grand Union Depot, where a spe-
cial train, consisting of eight coaches
and a baggage ear, were in waiting to
Buffalo was reached when the excur-
sionists disbanded, and the train was
held until 9:45. Upon leaving the
train the band led the way up Ex-
change street to Washington, and
thence to Clark's Business College,
Coal and Iron Exchange Building,
where a halt was made to serenade
the College. After this the band pro-
ceeded to St. .Jamea Hall, where the
Rev. Dr. Talmage delivered a lecture
under the auspices of the College, en-
titled "The Bright Side of Things."
At 8 o'clock the hall was well filled,
and seated on the platform were a
large number of the prominent clergy-
men of the city.
It was about ten minutes past 8
when President Clark and Dr. Tal-
mage made their appearance on the
stage, and were greeted with rounds
of applause. Mr. Clark, in introduc-
ing the famous orator, said :
"It atTords me pleasure to introduce
to you the distinguished lecturer of the
evening, and it seems proper for me to
here state that this oficasion is com-
memorative of the Pall Opening of
Clark's Business College, which has al-
LESS0^4 IN PENMANSHIP.
B\ S. A. DRAKE.
If the directions concerning move-
ment, given in the ■ pret-eding leeson.
have been closely followed by the
learner, he, no doubt, discovers that
he can control the pen more easily,
and can describe larger and smoother
ovals than wlien he began the study.
In other words, he has developed, to
some eitent, the power to use the pen
easily and accurately.
In the preceding les8on,oiily short let.
ters were introduced, ou account of their
being small and without shade, conse-
quently requiring least scope of move-
ment, and pressure upon the pen. The
small letters, presented in the first line of
the copies below, are called the semi-
a>(ended letters. In the /, the right
cunw and the straight Ihic only are
used. The curve is carried upward from
the base line two spaces, the straigiit
line coinciding with it from the top
downward one space, where they sepa-
rate and become distinct lines. The
downward stroke, a straU/ht line, unites
at the base, in an oval turn. with, a right
carve. The downward stroke begins
with an abrupt shade, diminishing
the p, to which is joined the finishing
stroke of the g.
The t consists of a right curve carried
upward two spaces, a straight line down
to base, and finished with a left curve
The learner should study each letter
until he shall have gained an acctiratfl
knowledge of its form and dimensions,
after whicli he should give considerable
time to practice upon the letter alone,
following with short words involving the
use of this letter, and others previously
studied.
Of the three principles used in the
formation of capital letters, the reverse
oval or sixth prineiplc, is most easily
learned, and it will be found most profit-
able to turn the attention first to those
letters, the formation of which involves
its use. This principle should be thor-
oughly learned, and practiced with a
free, sliding movement of the hand, or
muscular movement, before employing it
in the formation of a letter.
The letter It. presented in th« second
line of the copies below, may now be
made the subject of study. In this we
have the sixth principle, to which is
added a left curve, three spaces in ex-
tent, drawn downward to the base line,
and one space to the right of the first
part of the letter. The two parts are
-^^^-T-TyT^-Crn^^^
/^j^^QX^
carry the party to the Falls. The
train left Erie i^romptly at 7:45 and
reached Buffalo at 10:30, when the
train was reinforced by a large num-
ber of the students of the Buffalo
College, and thence i>roceeded to the
Falls, arriving at 11:45.
The day was a delightful one, and
it seemed as thougli Providence had
specially favored the excursionists in
giving them the benefit of such pleas-
ant weather. At 3 o'clock p. ni.
Knoll's Band gave a grand concert in
Prospect Park that attracte<l the at-
tention of thousands of people. The
excursionists were free to 8i)end the
time as they thought bestj and in this
resjject they lost no time in seeing
everything of interest that was offered
by this famous resort.
At 5:45 o'clock the band left the
Park and nuirched to the train, play-
ing a stirring air that was sufficient
notice to the excursionists that the
time had arrived when they must bid
adieu to the Falls of Niagai-a and
wend their way homeward.
Promptly at 6:10 the train was
ready to st^rt on its journey to Buf-
falo, and at a little hefore 7 o'clock
ready obtained such prominence and
popularity in your city. We have just
returned from a trip to Niagara Falls,
where several hundred students of
the Colleges have been enjoying them-
selves for a day, and we now assem-
ble here so that they, as well as you
who are not members of the College,
may have the pleasure of listening
tea lecture entitled "The Bright Side
of Things," and the one who Is present
to deliver it scarcely needs an introduc-
tion, as he is known the world over for
his grand pulpit utterances as the Rev.
T. DeWitt Talmage, of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
whom I now have the honor of intro-
ducing to you."
Dr. Talmage was heartily greeted
with great applause, and for fully one
hour and a half he held the audience
spell-bound.
At the close of the lecture the ex-
cursionists boarded the train, and at
9:45 the words 'All aboard" were
given, and in two hours and thirty
minutes Erie was reached.
Thus ended the Third Grand An-
nual Oi)ening of Clark's College, and
nothing but praise of the splendid
success attending the affair can be
heard.
Always be
haste, but
gradually as it approaches the base.
The letter is completed by a horizontal
straight li7ie, one space in length, dr
across the downward stroke, one-half
space from the top, so that two-thirds of
it shall be on the right hand side. This
line should be parallel to the base line.
The ascending and descendnig line in
the first part of the d, are like those in
the first part of the small a, while the
rest of the d is like the t without the
The (/ its like the a. except that the
last downward stroke is carried below
the base line a space and a half, where
a short oval turn to the right is made
and finished with an upward compound
In formnig the />, a right curve is car-
ried upward from base line two spaces,
where it is united, in an angle, with a
straight line, which is carried below the
base line one space and a half, termina-
ting in an abrui)t shade. The letter is
completed by a left curve carried up-
ward from base line one space, where it
is united, in an oval turn.with a straight
line carried downward to base line, and
here joined to the finishing right curve.
The other small letters presented
should be used as linal letters. The g
is like the q, except that the last down-
ward stroke is a full right I'urve carried
below the base line a space and a half,
and well to the left.
The y is composed of the latter part of
joined by a loop carried upward from
the lower extremity of the last down-
ward stroke.
Beginning at the middle of the de-
scending stroke in the sixth principle,
carry a left curve upward one space,
form an oval turn, and descend to base
with a straight line, finishing with an
oval turn, and we have the capital N,
presented in the third line of the copies
above.
Practice on the exercises, presented
in the fourth line, will prove an efB-
cient means in securing accurate forms.
A letter, recurringin this manner, makes
it easy for the learner to discover any
defects that may exist in slant, shade
and extent, and by keeping such defects
in mind, he is led to avoid them in sub-
se(iuent efforts.
The student of writing should view
with a critical eye every form that flows
from his pen. and in every attempt, he
should strive to approach his ideal of
perfection. Repetition of lui error does
not lead to a departure from it, but
rather confirms the habit of falling into
the error, and makes its avoidance more
difficult.
In every undertaking, it is the part of
wisdom to use all the means that may
conduce to success. He, who deems an
object worthy of an attempt.8hows poor
judgment, if he neglects any require-
ment that may tend to the accomplish-
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
^\\e Afnerican Pefifnan,
Published Monthly at 60c Per Year,
By Clark & Johnaon, Proprietors, Erie,
Pa., and Buifalo, N Y.
)' address on receipt (
Single CO
pie copies u
ADVERTISING RATES.
e will give a reduction of 40
tea to all advcrtlsorB paying
a date of contract.
one column.
'^J~
8S""cn:.°'.!!^!l:
■::.: IS "
given iiQ Reading B
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
PREMIUMS.
To all our aubcrlbers remitting One Dollar wc will
until further notice, mail a copy of Volume Plrat of
Clark's Progressive Book-keeping uud the Auekican
Pkmuan for one year, or we will present a copy of
both volumes of Book-kt^eping to any one Bending a
club of ten subscribers and $4.50. Now Is the time
To a
persons Interesting themselves in be-
HK AJiEKicAN Pbnman and sending clubs
given 11
to give c
e one sending the club on all subscriptions
ush premiumn to those securing clubs, and
will be invariably followed.
Remit
Money t
rder, Poalal Note, or Registered Letter, to
CLARK & JOHNSON.
Publishers, Erie. Pa.
ERIE
PA., ANB BUFFALO, N. Y.. SRI>T., 18S0.
ill a short article of only ten lines.
The misspelled words are set iu
italics.
Life scholarships are now issued by
but Ihree or four schools within our
knowledge, and it is a matter of infinite
surprise that any intelligent school man
will do so unbusinesslike a thing. It is
a. rcdicnfoua confession to make that
tliree years' tuition is worth no more
than a three months' course, but that is
the irrisisdble logic of their tuition fee.
—Rochmter Commercial Review.
Tlio Review w.iuld do well to study
uj) on ortliography and English gram-
ni:ir before making any further criti-
cism. Now as to the truth of the "A.
P.'s" statement as published above as
to wliat Mr. Williams said, we here-
with append a clipping from the Col-
lege Journal of Mr. G. R. Rathbun's
Business College, Omaha, Neb., as cor-
roborating what we heard Mr. Wil-
liams siiy at the convention:
" 'Williams, of Rochester, stated at the
convention that book-keeping is of the
least importance in a business course
What does he consider a business educa^
tion to be ? Do not his students spend
time in getting a knowledge of th"
Upon the public, and the tendencies
of the times point to the business col-
lege as being the most important of
all educational institutions. Let every
business college projirietor put forth
his best efforts to have a college wor-
thy of the best patronage, and he will
find that the public will not be slow-
to appreciate his eflbrts.
branch than any othe
J Pen^
SOMEBODY HAS ERRED!
Thk American Penman, published
at Clark's Business Colletfe, Erie, Pa.,
for July, has the following:
Williams, of Rochester, stated at the
convention that "book-keeping is of
least importance in a business college
course," What does he consider a busi-
ness education to be? and does not his
students spend more time in netting a
knowledge of this branch than any
other.
We cannot imagine how the reporter
of the paper named could have so mis-
under^itood what he heard at the con-
vention. What Williams did say was
that more attention should be given to
those things to which too little import-
ance is usually attached— practical writ-
ing, correspondence, rapid ai'ithmetical I
calculations, orthography, use of Ian- 1
guage. etc., and that, if these were
projjerly looked after book-keeping
would take care of itself, his idea being
that, since book-keeping is the most fas-
cinating branch in the business college
course of study, it will naturally receive
all the attention it deserves.
Mr. Packard's quotations from Mr.
Williams' remarks, when they appear in
the report, will justify this repudiation
of the words alleged to have been ut-
Thk Penman's memory is as defective
as its grammar. — Rochester Comvicrclal
Rtrlrw.
Mr. Williams' attention is resiicct-
liiUy called to tlie following i)aragraph
clipped from tlie Review, snice he
speaks of " orthography." The reader
will notice the originality of Mr. Wil-
liams' spelling of the following words
We heard the i-emark by Mr. Williams
and fully concurred in it at the time.
We were discussing the feasibility of
short courses, which were, as the Pen-
man knows.championed by Prof Gaines,
of Poughkeepsie, and Prof. Nelson, of
Cincinnati. Prof. Brown, of Jackson-
ville, Williams, and ourselves, contended
that book-keeping was only a small
share of what should be the curriculum
of a business college; simply an auxili-
ary of the course. To begin the study
of book-keeping before a student can
work a problem in interest, write a good
legible hand, or until he has a good
knowledge of the common school
branches, is a waste of time and a farce,
Mr. Wilhanis rightly claimed, that at
this day and age the business colleges
have a higher calling than to simply in
struct in book-keeping. Such business
colleges have had their day."
Of coui-se we shall have to refer
Mr. Rathbun's article back to him, as
Mr.Willinms denies making any such
statement, and wait for Mr. Packard's
report. But how does Mr. W. know
that Mr. Packard's report will not
contain what he stated at the conven-
tion ? It cannot be presumed that the
proceedings are being " doctored " for
the occasion. We certainly hope not.
Well I well I we pity Rathbun. Here
he has *' concurred in the remark
made by Mr. Williams," and now the
Review says no such statement was
made by Mr. Williams. We are sorry
for Ratlihun, iis he evidently wants to
tell the truth, but when his " ideal "
comes to the front with a public
denial, somehody has erred. Who
is it?
The business colleges of the United
Slates have within twenty years multi-
plied from a few institutions to several
hundred, some of which have an annual
registration of over a thousand students
each. United States Commissioner
Eaton reports a greater number of
graduates from the business colleges
than from the colleges of law, medicine
and theology combined. OfScial reports
show about 50.000 students during the
past year,— iV. }'. iitar.
From the above notice it is easy for
the reader to see what a strong popu-
lar hold ' the business colleges have
A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS.
Prof. D. T. Ames, proprietor of the
Penman'g Art Journal, New York, who
is in Buffalo on business, gave a fine ad-
dress to the students of Clark's College,
in which he congratulated the students
in having such delightful surroundings,
and so competent a faculty, and Messrs.
Clark & Johnson for the splendid suc-
cess they are meeting with in Buffalo—
the large number of students in attend-
ance, aud their fine college rooms. Mr.
Ames, who was for over twenty years
connected with business college work, is
a good judge of this class of schools,
and says Buffalo has at least one school
that ought to be a.ppreci&ted.—Buff'alo
Commercial Advertiser.
Bro. Ames, why did you not come
over to Ei'ie ? You have but seen the
half of Clark's Colleges, and you will
have to go the whole length of the
line before you witness the complete-
ness of our institutions. However, we
arc thankful to Mr. Ames for his ad-
dress at Buffalo, and hope he will call
again.
EXCHANGES.
The Penman's Art Journal, New
York, presents its usual fine appear-
ance.
The Pewman's QazeUe^'^ow published
at Chicago, 111., is among the best of
chirographic journals.
The Western Penman, Cedar Rapids,
la., comes out regularly well-filled
with good reading.
The School Visitor, Madison, Wis.,
occasionally overlooks The American
Penman in mentioning its exchanges,
but clips quite generously from its
pages.
The College Journal, Rathbun &
Daily, publishers, Omaha, Neb., is one
of the best printed college papers we
have seen.
The Commercial Renew, Rochester,
N. Y., is well printed and edited.
The Gem City Journal is before us,
well-filled with excellent reading mat-
ter in the interest of business educa-
tion.
ARE WE ADVANCING?
To attain the summit of true useful-
ness in our calling, it is sometimes neces-
sary to pause in our laborious researches
and ask ourselves if we are really ad-
vancing the interests of our chosen
work. This can be easily determined bv
examining the results of our efforts and
weighing the amount of scribbling we
have transformed, or caused to be trans-
formed, into legible or elegant writing.
By closely studying the practical results
of our work, we can determine where
changes should be made and improve-
ments brought about. He who blindly
exercises a cause, without analyzing its
effect, is doing himself tind the world an
injury. If we possess a pet theory or a
hobby, and by taking a retrospect, find
its effects unsatisfactory, we would in-
deed be bigoted did wt* not endeavor to
remove the injurious part of the cause.
Teacliers, watch your pupils go into
bnsinesB, and the eCTeut it has upon their
penmanship. If it speedily degenerates
into a mere scrawl, there has certainly
been something wrong in your instruc-
tion and training of that pupil. If you
are conscientious, and have at heart the
real welfare Of your students, you will
at once diligently seek for soiue method
Of training that will produce better re-
sults when put to the test of actual
practice.
We are constantly hearing that the
penmanship of the masses is degenerat-
ing, and whether this is true or false, it
behooves us to ascertain, and if true, try
to remedy it. We cannot, as true teach-
ers, shut our eyes to facts, be they ever
so disagreeable, but nmst be ever on the
alert to know the worst that we may
provide for it.
But I think we do not need to despair.
The writing of the masses may have
degenerated as far as legibility is con-
cerned, but it must be remembered that
the increase of speed demanded by the
multiplied business interests and enter-
prises of to-day, can partially account
for the lack of legibility in business
writing.
Had nothing better than the old,
round style of hand-writing ever been
originated, it would almost utterly fail
to meet the demands of business life.
The rush of business demands a hand-
writing that can be written very rapid-
ly, and still retain as much legibility aa
possible, and if we have succeeded in
establishuig such a system, and impart-
ing such a style, we have certainly made
a long step in advance.
To the teacher of writing is entrusted
the important duty of molding the
handwriting of a nation, aud with this
trust there comes the gravest responsi-
bilities, which only the' most earneat
efforts and practical wisdom and exp^..
rience can faithfully discharge. Are we
doing our best, or merely working in a
stoical sort of manner, regardless of the
real results of our labors V
Dubuque, Iowa, Sept. 4, 1880.
In accepting the resignation of Mr.
Bruce, Register of the Treasury, the
President gives as one reason why he
thinks the resignation should be ac-
cepted, the fact that the Register has no
practical knowledge of book-keeping.
If that is so, Mr. Bruce should havflf^
tendered his resignation long ago. Thla\
cu-cumstance may properly give rise to
the inquiry if there are not many others
holding important positions under the
Government where good accountants
should be preferred, irrespective of
poUtical views, in preference to mere
politicians who have no practical knowl-
edge of accounts. We hope the intiuia-'
tion given in the acceptance of Mr.
Bruce's resignation will serve as a basis
for precedence in future removals and
appointment". The appointment of
skilled accountants to positions of trust-,
where a knowledge of book-keeping is
niiportant, should receive careful con-
sideration both in National aud State
Govermiients.— A^. K. Trcasurij.
The most expert counters of money in
the Treasury are women, and the women.
in the Treasury as detectors of counter-
feit money have no equals in this coun-
try or any other. The women in the
several departments of the Govermuent,
no matter in wliat capacity they are
employed, devote more hours to service
than do the men. while they perform
their work e<pmliy well. These are facte
that among many other fauts the Com-
mission appointed to investigate the de-
partments will do well to consider, before
it reports iu favor of eliminating
female element from the clerical force
the departments. — Ex. •
>efore J
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
"ITmNDSAnEEEEa'
Clark's Progressive Bookkeeping
and Peomanstiip.
The Best Arrang:cd Text Book for
Use in Business Collej^es, Coin
niercial Departnieiits, Hi^li
Schools, Aeadeniies. &v.,
Kvei- Published.
A Special Offer to Those Des
to Introduee the Work.
Foremost among the excellent works
now published on the science of ac-
counts, stands Clark's Progressive Book-
keeping. It is printed upon extra super
sized and calendered paper, substantially
bound in cloth, beautifully embossed,
presenting an unusually attractive ap-
pearance. It is published in two
volumes, and the complete work is also
bound in one volume, comprising 228
pages, printed in two colors.
The work is admirably adapted to
self-instruction, as well as for use in
Business Colleges, High Schools, Nor-
mal Schools and Academies. It is care-
fully graded, beginning with a full and
(loiiiplete analysis of the principles of
Double-Entry, Commercial Paper, Rules
for Journalizing, etc. Beautiful written
forms of the Day Book, .Journal. Cash
Book. Ledger. Trial Balances, etc , ap-
pear upon its pages. It is the only work
published illlustrating and presenting
the advantages of the Progres
Ledger, the latest and most labor-saving
method of Ledgerizing extant. Every
college or school teaching book-keeping
should use this work. Students invari-
ably learn faster and better from it than
from any other.
As a special inducement to schools
desiring to examine a copy, a complete
work will be mailed, postpaid, which
retails at |3, upon the receipt of $1.
This is done to enable those interested
in a good work upon the science of ac-
counts, to examine its merits for them-
accouDte in a clear, concise, systematic
manner. It is a valuable addition to the
list of commercial text books."
Prof. L. A. Wyatt. Jackson. Min.,
says: " I like it better and better the
more I become familiar with it."
Prof. G. B. Munn, President of the
American Business College, Warren, Pa.,
says: " Express us 25 books at once."
Prof. H. A. Lambert, of the Winona
(Minn.) Business College, says; "I am
umch pleased with your presentation of
the important departments of the sub-
ject. It is certainly a very nicely ar-
ranged work, and ought to meet the
approval of our leading commercial
schools."
Hundreds of other equally meritorious
letters have been received, but want of
it. he will never have any confidence in ] but then there's lots that does— little fel-
you thereafter. Walk out from him, , lers not half as big as me, and some of
give up your position, rather than make I 'em do swear awful."
a false statement. Never be unfaithful j " Do your employers allow it ?" asked
in your work. When you become an the editor.
employe you sell your time for so "Not if they know it; but you don't
much. Never prove unfaithful. While j s'pose they swear at the boss ? And
attending college one of my professors ! them that chews, they don't chew on
said: "Young man, never measure your , pay-day."
duty by what you get, but by what you j " And don't you think this might and
can do." Those words have come to me i ought to be changed ?"
time and again, and I would have you | " Yes, I do; and I tliought, after I read
remember them. Suppose I engage to ' 'bout the Reformed Club, that I'd like
work for somebody, and afterward:
find that I am really worth $2,000 per
year, and am to get only $500. Shall 1
render just one-fourth of the work, or
shall 1 do the best I can, the same as if
I were to have $3,000? Certainly,! should
do the best I can. It belongs to the
morals of business never to take more
than your wages.
Now, as an employer, you will hold a
Prof. H. S. Edwards, of the Eastern
Iowa Normal School, says: " 1 am very
favorably impressed with the work. It
is accurate in statement, logical in ex-
pression and progressive in character.
I am especially pleased with the Ledger
arrangement on pages 68, 60, 70 and 71.
I can see great good and simplicity in
that method."
Prof. W. A. Ctane. Professor of Ac-
counts in the Spenceriaii Business Col-
lege, New York, says: " I have looked
your work through and like it very
much."
Prof. H. C. Spencer
D. C„ says: "The
compact, neat and pie.
and unfolds to the learner the s
o/ rapid writing Oj/ B. C. t
space prevents the presentatio
thii
Those interested are cordially retjuest-
ed to address the publishers,
CLARK &L JOHNSON, Erie. Pa„
and their letters shall receive careful at-
tention. Do not fail to send for a copy.
of Washington,
.'ork presents a
.sing appearance,
MORALS IN BUSINESS.
mmary of an Address Delivered at Clark's
College by Rev. J. C. Wilson, Friday
Morning, Sept. 10, 1886.
This is a subject of great importance
one that pertaines to business. It has
three-fold relation, inasmuch as you
may become an employe and employer.
)r neither one nor the other, and I shall
peak firstly of an employe. As such
'ou will have temptations to make false
statements, temptations to falsify. Now
let me say, never make a false statement
to your employer, in other words never
lie. No matter what you have done.
even If it be too bad to mention, never
make a false statement. Always be
truthful, be just, be candid, as there is
no surer way to succeed. Never make a
false statement for your employer.
Many will ask this of you, but say "iVo,-
1 cannot afford it," and if your employer ,
i of ! oaks you to do such a thing, and you do '
relation to those you employ and to the
general public.
Never ask of your employe unreason-
able things. Never ask an evil thing,
always speak the truth. Follow the
golden rule. "Do unto others as you
would have others do unto you." Never
assume that you are something more
than you are. If you are a rogue, say
so; if an honest man, do not be afraid to
stand up under that banner so long as
you shall live; and in conclusion I would
admonish you that if you cannot deal
to jine, and so I'd see if I couldn't help
stop off the bad talk; an<l two other fel-
lers, they're goin' to stop."
"But how did you manage it 7 I
should really like to know."
' Well, I just said when I heard 'em,
'What d'ys want to say that for ?' and
they stared, and said, "Cos; guess I've
got a right to do what I please!' And
then I didn't get mad and say, ' No,
you ain't,' but I said, 'Well, s'pose you
have, but I wish you wouldn't' And
sometimes they laughed, and sometimes
they poked fun; but two of 'em swore
off, another one said he would if
we'd just let him say ' Jimminy cricks !'
and we did. We thought that wasn't
swearin'atall."
"So you have three who have given
it up ?"
"Yes, and another boy that we bought
out."
"Bought out ! What do you mean ?"
"Well, he had the biggest job lot of
bad words. Seemed's if he had all that
had been left over from the whole
trade. And we just got him to take ac-
count of stock, and make a list of swear-
words, and we others that swore off, we
formed a company, and agreed to buy
the lot at five cents apiece. And after
we bought "em, they wasn't his to use
no more, and so every time he used one
of "em he had to pay two cents."
" But would he tell you ?"
"Oyes; "twas "pon honor, you know,
and Jack's a real good fellow, and he
said he'd like to give it up, only they
stuck to him so he couldn't get rid of
'em without givin' 'em away, and we
offered to buy "em all. Wasn't it a good
dodge?"
And the editor went straight home,
and before he took off his overcoat,
wrote down the "dodge." to show the
young folks that one boy at least was in
earnest about helping himself and others
to reform. 1 do not write his last name,
because I know he is in such earnest
that he will be glad to have his language
corrected by some of the young friends
who have not been running to the cry
of "Cash here!" as he has ever since he
was eight years old.— W: I'. Svangeliaf.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
A dull boy in a certain school was fre-
quently reproached by his teacher, and
made little progress. One day he made
a first attempt to write. The scrawl was
so wretched it excited the laughter of
honestly, do not deal at all; and at last ' the boys who sat near him. A gentle-
let it be said of you when you come to
die that you were honest men and
women.— ^rtc Evtninff Herald of S^tt.
HOW THEY BOUGHT HIM OUT.
At least three-fourths of the efforts
started for the reform of abuses, publi{!
or private, when they fail, fail for want
of earnest purpose. A cash boy In a
York store, answered a request that any
boys or girls should tell of any wrongs
they would try to make right in the
year lW8a, in this way:
"Well, you 6ee, I think swearin's
'bout as bad as anything us boys in our
store do; swearin'andchewin'tobacker.
I don't chew, and lots of us boys don't;
isiting the school, witnessing his
distress, said to him :
" Never mind, my lad. do not be dis-
couraged, and you will be a writer some
day. 1 recollect when I first began
being quite as awkward as you. but I
persevered, and now. look ! See what I
can do !"
He took his pen, and wrote his name
in a large, legible hand.
Years afterward, when the dull boy
had become one of the most celebrated
men of his day. he met again the umn
who had spoken to him those few en-
couraging words. He said to him:
" It is my finu conviction that I owe
my success in life, under (iod's blessing,
to those few words you spoke to me that
day .when I sat so discourageil trying to
\ix\X.^"— Christian A(ivo<:a(t:.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
OFFICE ECONOMIES.
The merchant or manufacturer who
has carried his business through to a
permanent success, has had much to
learn from experience in arranging.upon
some econonomical basis, many of the
minor as well as important details of his
establishment. leading to loss or waste,
has in turn, received cautious experi-
ment and careful study, until some prac-
tical safty-valves were devised through
the introduction of which a saving
might be effected.
If one avenne of contingent expendi-
ture hae received less attention than an-
other, it is that which pertains to ex-
penses incurred in the office or account-
ing department. Tliis channel of dis-
bursement forms one of the most iuipor-
ant features for consideration in connec-
tion with the subject of business
economy; but, unfortunately, it is sel-
dom given the atttention which its
proniinen(^e demands. Were the exnen-
ditures in this department attended to
with proper care and prudence, it would
be found that much more than is, might
be accompHshed with them. Business
managers are not always sufficiently
prudent in their allowances for meeting
current e.\i)enBes of the counting-room,
and book-keepers are many times mex-
cusably extravagant in conducting their
special field of service.
Sound business economy does not so
much demand the cutting down of ex-
penses in the office as it does looking
after the proper and most expedient
conversion of what is prudently pro-
vided. The just criticism, if one were
offered, would not fall on the amount of
time usually expended in clerical ser-
vices, but would more properly strike at
the scanty information and the unsatis-
factory results which it is found that
such labor lias produced- The import-
ance of having concise, accurate and
comprehensive intelligence concerning
business operations will warrant a lib-
eral outlay for its accomplishment; but
to incur all the required expense with-
out securing its legitimate benefits is a
breach of business economy deserving
of the severest criticism-
The questions— J? rfl(. What are the
means to be employed ? and, second.
What are the results to be expected f—
form important subjects which demand
tlie precise consideration of the business
manager. The prime feature of import-
ance connected with these inquiries Is
thirst of professional service. The im-
Ijortant means upon which these results
depend is the accountant into whose
hands shall fall the manipulation of
office affairs, and upon whose skill shall
depend the proper and economic hand-
ling of a system of accounts The re-
sults to be anticipated are the complete,
correct and systematic representations
which fully illustrate the progress of
trade, the condition of financial affairs,
and all the various avenues through
which each special department of busi-
ness has been affected.
If the book-keeper is slothful in the
use of supplies and extravagant with
office paraphernalia, no matter what
may be the other qualifications, his ser-
vices will become a burdensome tax
which no businessman can safely afford
to encourage. If he lacks experience,
acquired skill, or natural ability— if he
is prone to negligence and liable to mis-
takes, his retention Is injudicious and
inexpedient, irrespective of what may
be the compensation for service, or even
though none be exacted. The true prin-
ciple of economy, here as elsewhere, is to
pay for the maximum value of what
such professional services are worth,
and exact in exchange the full consider-
ation for compensation allowed.— iV. Y.
Treasurt/.
EARLY ENGLISH PENMEN.
CRARLKS SMELL.
[Specially p
W. 6. LotUrc
Thomafi Ollyffe, Ralph Snow, there are
some satirical strokes upon George
Shelby, as if he had arrogated too much
to himself in his book of Natural Writ-
ing. They find great fault (and I think
The chirographic labors of this able ' yg^y justly) with penciled knots and
sprigged letters, as not to be admitted
OS any part of useful penmanship,
judicious j Tliese reflections, however, created ill
profession, blood, and even an open difference
ongst several of the superior artists
and elegant penman have received
general applause, not only fro;
public but also from
ingst those of his
I shall, therefore, injustice to his merits
writer and accurate accountant,
give as full an account of him and his
work as I can, at this distance of time
his death, being kindly assisted in
particulars by Mr. Joseph Cham-
pion, who had been his scholar and
apprentice.
Mr. Charles Snell, of London, was
born Anno Domini 1670, and educated
Christ's Hospital, being one of the
few who reflect honors on the blue coat.
put ai)prentice to some writing
master of no great note; Mr. Champion
upposes Mr. Topham, but Mr. Austin
.'fays he was informed to Mr. Brooks, a
writing-master in Aldergate street; but
t was a strong genius and a confident
ndustry. and copying after the en-
graved works of Barbedor, that pro-
duced that correctness and beauty
hicli are so conspicuous in his copy-
books. He kept school in divers parts
of London, as Bridewel per Sint. Fleet
street. Ludgate Hill, etc., and lastly suc-
ceeded Mr. John Seddon In Sir John
Johnson's free writing school in Priest's
Court, Foster Lane, Cheapside, which
he supported with credit upwards of
thirty-six years.
The first book that he published from
the rolling press was in 1693, entitled
"The Penman's Treasury Opened," be-
ing then twenty-two years of age —
William Elder, sculpslt. It contains
twenty-six folio plates, besides his
picture in front, and was, as he himself
affirms, the first published in England
done by connnand of hand.
It is true, indeed, he was one of our
first English penmen who practiced the
art. of writing in an absolute free, bold
and neat manner on the revival of the
useful elegance of the quill. Yet I have
been informed that there were jealous
heart burnings, if not bickerings, be-
tween him and Col. Ayres, another
of our great reformers in the writ-
ing common weal, both eminent
men in their way, yet like our most
celebrated poets. Pope and Addison, or,
to carry the comparison still higher, like
Ciesar and Pompey, one could bear no
superior and the other no equal.
There is in some copies of the afore-
said book a little poem prefixed in com-
mendation of the art of writing as well
as of the autlior's performance, by Dr.
Joshua Barnes, of Emanuel College,
Cambridge, dated April 23d, 1694. In
this poem Dr. Barnes appears somewhat
singular in his opmion amongst modern
authors in ascribing the art of writing
as a divine gift to Adam in this stanza:
" No, no, the gift of a commanding pen,
Was first by God, to first born Adam giv'n;
From him to Seth it came, ihe best of men.
And justly, since the richesi gift of Heaven."
In 1812 Mr. Snell published his Art of
Writing, in Theory and Practice, George
Bichham, Sculpt. It contains 28 plates
in a long folio, besides his picture at the
beginning. In a copy of verses, by Mr.
Peter Motteai, prefixed to this book, are
the following harmonious and beautiful
ting of those times. Robert Moore
and George Shelby seem, in that contro-
versy, to have been men of calmest tem-
in the different parties. This book
published when our authors were
masters of St. John Johnson's free
iting school in Foster-lane It was
printed for Henry Overton, at the
Whitehouse, without Newgate.
In 1714 Mr. Snell published his copy-
book entitled. Standard Rules, exhibited
in six plates, beside the letter-press
work, in which the rules are demonstra-
ted. This book proved to be a bone of
contention, and occasioned a terrible
quarrel between our authors and Mr.
John Clark, writing master and account-
antin Warwick-lane This quarrel about
standard rules ran so high between them
that they could scarce forbear surrilous
language therein, and a treatment of
each other unbecoming gentlemen.
Both sides in the dispute had their abet-
tors, and to say which had the most
truth and reason, "Non nostrum est
tantas componere htes;" perhaps both
parties might be too fond of their own j
schemes. The best way, I think, would ,
have been to have only offered their
different schemes and sentiments there- |
on, and explications thereof, to tlie
world, and left them to people to choose
which they liked best. Who now-a-days
take those standard rules, either one or
the other, for their guidance in writingV
Our author also printed the law al-
phabet, viz.: of the court and chancery
bands, in one large sheet; but I cannot
ascertain the date nor say by whom it
was engraved. He has likewise four
plates dated 1711, very well executed, in
in George Bickham's Penman's Com-
panion.
Mr. Snell also published eight text
books upon the keeping of Books and
Accounts, between the years 1697 and
1718.
To conclude, this laborious and cele-
brated writing master and accurate
arithmetician died at his dwelling house
in Sermon-lane, Doctor's Commons,
Anno Bom. 1733, and lies buried in the
body of St. Gregory's Church, in Old
Fish street, but without either monu-
ment, stone or inscription over his
grave, neither does he want any, for his
works will be a lasting memorial of his
abilities in his profession. However,
instead of a formal epitaph, I shall pre-
sent the reader with the following lines
composed in his praise by Mr. Sinclare:
" Accept, dear shade I what justice makes me
du,
And your most curious hand compell'd ipe to;
Great Velde's pen, immortalized his name.
And Mat'rots stretched the blowing checks oi
Bold Barbedor, in freedom did cxcell.
But this last worthy was reviv'd in Snell;
And Europe now. strikes to the British hand,
I'or justness, neatness, freedom and command;
Yet we're divided, which in thee to boast,
Wheiher the penman or accountant most."'
"Now justly bold, i
The pen at once join:
With softness strong,
Loose with proportioi
Not sweli'd. not full,
) Snell's improving hand,
freedom with command I
with ornament not vain,
I, and with neatness plain;
complete in ev'ry part,
And artful most, when not alTecting a
In letters to the aathors, prefixed to
book, from John Slnolare, | Jay VlUers.
Clark's College has arranged for a
popular lecture course the coming sea-
son. There are to be seven entertain-
ments, including the Mendelssohn Quin-
tette Club of Boston, lectures by Hon.
Geo. R. Wendling, Prof. David Swing,
Robert J. Burdette, Mrs. Mary A. Liv-
Col. L. F. Copeland and Dr. J.
OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOLING.
Wrltteo for llie Erie AtlverUaer.
When one can compare the complete
and perfect finish of No 3 school, to the
old-time school hou.se of the country dis-
trict, we wonder that anything can be
said against our present system. The
country school house in which '■ the
subscriber " obtained hia educational
facilities, was situated at the conven-
ient distance of one mile and a half
"cross-lots," and two miles and a half
around the road, from our farm home.
The road was seldom traveled in winter,
and between home and tin* old red
Greenwood school house lay two creeks,
three or four hills, seven fences, and in
winter time about half a mile of slush.
We had to get up before daylight, feed
the stock, and chop wood for the day,
before getting our breakfast. Mother
would theu fill our dinner basket with
doughnuts, bread, butter and mince-pie,
and we were off. We had rare fun rid-
ing over the crust with a girl on the sled
with us. Our teacher was a good old
soul, and for two or three wintnis served
us faithfully, and tiien he went to the
land of shadows. He could play corner
ball at noon, and beat any of us, and
there was no doubt that he loved us and
tried to do us good. There was no grade
lo the school, for every scholar had his
own reader, which ranged from Thad-
deus of Warsaw, up to, and Including
the new Testament and the Bible.
Whatever arithmetic we had in the
house was made the standard work for
that family. Our school was usually of
about thirty-five, and ranged In size
from Tilda Gough, two feet six. to Ben
Christi, who was six feet two. Poor
Ben, his education was sadly neglected,
for he read in a new Testament, and
only knew letters, and after he had la^
I boriously spelled them out, it never en-
tered his head what the words meant.
We learned geography by singing the
names of States, and the Capitals, and
the names of rivers and their length.
It was really a good way to learn, and
has remained in my memory in a great
measure to this day.
The school house was usetl for Sunday-
school in summer, and for preaching by
a Circuit M. E. Itinerant once in two
weeks all the year. The late John
Abbott, an excellent Methodist, was
preaching on the Circuit, and one sum-,
mer day he was late to arrive. The
school house was packed full of people,
and seeing no way of getting In handy,
except by the open window, (it was a
very warm day,) a rail was put up at
the window nearest the preachers' desk,
and he clambered in that way. There
was an irreverent fellow in tlie audience,
and when he saw the Rev. John come
through the window he repeated the
words: "He that entereth not by the
door into the slieep-fold, but cUmbeth
up some other way, the same is a thief
and a robber." The effect of this bit of
timely humor on the audience can be
imagined. x. x. x.
One of the most worthy as well as one
of the most successful of Educational
Institutions established in the region of
the Lake Shore is Clark's Commercial
College, at Erie, Pa. As usual, energy,
ability and faithful devotion to business
have had their reward. Although it has
been in operation but about three years,
the College already ranks very high
both in the character of tlie work It
does and In the number of students. A
practical business education is what
Prof. Clark aims to impart to his stu-
dents; and to this may be added, besides
the ordinary branches of a good English
education, ornamental penmanship and
a knowledge of short-hand. ~7'/'C //owwi
I
b/n«^K
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
HOW TO TELL COUNTERFEITS.
The United States Treasury Depart-
ment has of late years adopted for bonds
and currency a peculiar paper described
below, and which is deemed a stronger
protection against counterfeits than that
used by the Bank of England, which
has recently been dangerously counter-
feited in £50, £100 and £300 notes.
As the first issue of greenbacks, which
were not printed on fibre paper, were
most dangerously counterfeited, but
have almost wholly disappeared from
circulation, therefore receive them with
great caution, or refuse them if in doubt
about their genuineness.
All other genuine greenbacks, gold
and silver certificates, and later issues of
Nationr.l bank notes are printed on the
Government paper, the first kind with
the fibre distributed in short pieces, lo-
calized with a blue tint, detected by
picking it with a pen; the other with the
fibre in two parallel threads, red and
blue bilk, runnuig lengthwise througU
the note, seen by holding the note up to
the light. The public are cautioned not
to draw these threads out of the paper.
If in doubt about the genuineness of
any bank note in the report, refuse it
unless printed on Government fibre
paper. All national bank notes not in
this report are genuine, whether printed
on Government paper or not.
The counterfeit |;10 and $20 silver cer-
tificates are not on Government paper.
Some of the counterfeit $5, $10 and $20
greenbacks (series of 1875) and $50 and
$500 (series of 1860) are an imitation dis
tributed fibre paper. Very dangerous.
These are all the counterfeits on the new
greenbacks worth noticing.
Better refuse all twenties, fifties and
one hundreds on the banks in
port unless printed on Government
paper.
All genuine bank notes having brown
back and seal, have both kinds of the
fibre paper combined; while the counter-
feit $10. on the Third National Bank of
Cincinnati, O., and the photographic
counterfeit $5, on the First National
Bank of Milwaukee.Wis., have no fibre.
These two are the only counterfeits on
the brow[ibacks.
Better refuse all pierced notes All
United States currency bavmg a brown
seal has the parallel threads or cables.
All United States currency printed since
1869 is on Government fibre paper.
There are in circulation very danger-
ous counterfeit $10 greenbacks dated
1875. All the genuine of that date are
on distributed fibre paiter.— Detroit Free
STEPPING STONES TO SUCCESS.
WRITTEN SPEECHES IN CONGRESS.
There is a form of discussion that goes
on in the House which deserves due re-
probation, writes Congressman T. B.
Reed in the Chautanquan, and that is
the reading of written speeches. A
vast deal of time is consumed to no busi-
ness purpose. These things are almost
entirely for home consumption. They
usually begin at the origin of human af-
fairs, and are full to repletion with that
kind of knowledge which takes it for
granted that the reader's mind is a blank
subject. I say "reader's," as it
seldom that this kind of an ora-
tion has any hearers, for when a mem-
ber pulls out a pile of manuscript the
action, except in rare instances, is re-
garded as an uivitation to the rest of the
members to mind their own business,
which they immediately proceed with
one accord to do with their might. It
may be added as a curious fact in natur-
al history that many a member who has
passed a whole hour in reading w
nobody has listened to will beg \
pathetic fervor and insistance for
other five or ten minutes in which to
render liimself hoarse by reading what
he has fufl liberty to print. Perhaps it
is because, his eyes filled with his
handwriting, and his ears soothed and
charmed by the mellifluence of his
voice, his soul transcends the unworthy
House and seems to be pouring itself
into the ears of the country, variously
estimated at from 55.000,000 to 58.000.000.
Some day or other the natural historian
of the race will take philosophic cogniz-
ance of this phenomenon, and to him
this solution is timidly but respectfully
offered. But the Congressman is not
entirely to be blamed. In fact, perhaps,
he is not to be blamed at all. It is only
a supply which answers a demand. The
fault probably lies with the American
people who unreasonably demand that
their legislators shall be orators, and
shall prove that they are such by visible
results. If they only realized how much
time was wasted in such effort, and how
little attention was paid to them, they
would measure the virtues of their mem-
bers by other and truer standards.
Display Sjeciieus
To Penmen and all interested in artistic
pen work.
ON RECEIPT OF $2.00
I will mail you. prepaid, your choice of
the following large specimens, size 22i28
inches, flourished on white cardboard.
XjIST.
A pair of Running Horses,
A Lion, or
A Lar$!;e Antelope.
Any of the above will make a very
showy and attractive appearance, and
OS Display Specimens for organizing
classes, etc., they have
NO EQUAL.
A. S. HEPNER.
Pillow, Pa.
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
Book-sellers, Stationers
Also steel En^pavings, Arto-Tj'pes,
»IIT
Number of Cftrdi in packftge: 18 36
Stjlo A.— Plain White, good qoMlty $0.« l-.OO
" B.-Weddlng BrlfttOl, Terr bwt 48 .W
" C.-OUtEdge, M»orteJ, S.1 104
•■ D.— Bevel out Edge, ths Bdmi S5 l.0«
'■ K.-Bevela of Cream and Whlt« 56 I.IO
'■ G.—SUk and Satin Bevels 60 1.18
■■ H -aght-ply Bevels, »Moried -. .62 i 21
" l.-EUte. iu.-i-i.-i-t*i« - .W l.'iS
AddreBB Lines-Extra "■;<' .*0
CENTRAL PEN HOLDER.
j Tha enmping of the Ongert Ij ccntlaQOU wilting, acI vUcb 13
I cAtrsED B7 coyrmuALLY oaASpmo atieb tbs powt ottiii
, VZS TO B&IH9 IT SOWV TO THE PAFEB, li vhoUj OTorarat.
r busii
stht
nghly
Keep at one thing-in nowise change.
Observe system in all you do and un-
dertake
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth
doing well.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
Be self-reliant; do not take too much
. but rather depend
Mr. James H. Rutter, late President
of theN.Y. Central R. K.,took a course at
a Business College, and at an early age
became a book-keeper and then a clerk
in a freight office. Thence he rose by
merit, step by step, until he reached the
highest position in railroad circles. He
was a skillful diplomatist, a capital story-
teller, a fighter for his side, and thor-
oughly conversant with all the details of
an intricate business. His death in
early manhood was probably d
cessive labors and vigil
of the companies he sei
moderate fortune.
A school teacher in Washingti
instructing a class in writing. "Miss,
Miss " squealed a small boy holding up
his hand over in the corner. "Yes.
Johnnie, what is it?" she answered,
going to the kid. "Do T write Republi-
can with a capital R like this copy-
book's got it ?" " Of course. Why not?"
Cause pa said this was a last year's
1 the interest
316 Slate St., - ERIE, PA.
GOOD PENMANSHIP.
I. 3 and 3, Uedlui; 4 ud S, eztrt n
Business Writers 1
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found to'lie " tbe tWng." Price, $1.06 per pacU-
of flourlsblng 1
M RlT'rKi'% LETTER.
rpcr, price SOceEta.
SieMAXIJRES.
FL.Oi;RI8HlI>€i.
ecimeoa or off-baul a
._ - - r, whicb are (
lethe moBt spirited work i
penman. Price,
ceded by all
sent out by i-_^ , ._ ^
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SETS OF CAPri'ALS.
Execuled Id ibo higbest Biyle of the ait. and winnlDj
Ih°world. Each 25 CBnU. 2 nets idlff.renl), 45 cenU.S
tdlfforonO, 62 cent*. Meutlou if you d*ilre plain or o
menUI »l)rle..
BRILEIAI^X REACK INK.
roEUpleted'for aeDdJag;,
Never fail to keep your apppoint- copy-book, and the style has changed.
, be p.
uctual to the
Never be idle, but keep your hands or
mind usefully employed except when
sleeping.
Use charity with all; be ever generous
in thought anil deed— help others along
life's thorny path.
Make no haste to be rich: remember
that tniall and steady gains give com-
petency and tranquility of mind.
He tliat ascends a ladder must take
the lowest round. All who are above
The teacher made the kid follow copy.
Cincinnati Merchant Traveler.
The Bank of France is said to possess
an ingeniously arranged photographic
studio concealed in a gallery behind its
cashier, so that at a signal the portrait
of a suspected customer may be instant-
ly taken without his knowlege.
It is easy to console others in their
afflictions if we possess that inward sat-
isfaction that tells us we are not as bad
off as they are.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
BOOTS and SHOES.
GENSHEIMER&BROWM,
715 8tale Street,
AND RUBBER GOODS,
Gray Bros. Pine Shoes for Ladies v^^ " ^
Cox , Gardner & Doms' Fine Gents' Shoos. ^a*
ClI ruid in, eel our .lotS ^ ^
CENSHEIMER & BROWN, ^ ^^
F. W. MORGAN,
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Fine Teas, Coffees,
SPICES, CANNED GOODS, &c,
The best selected stock of
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^^
^o-
Johnson's Lake Shore
Home Magaxine.
PromlneDt amoog tbe featDres will be eenes of
ThrlUing HlBlorlcal ROMANCES AND REALITIES
OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, as opera-
led Id tblB regrlOD a generation ago.
Choicest Reading, Literary and General, Tor Tooog
and Old.
TERMS:
$I.OO Per Year. Liberal Discount to
Agents.
Magazine Co., (L't d )
810 State St., Erie, Pa.
pointed,
perfect.
0>er°2.9
M*ii°h."
'u.t"'.''l5
" TLej a
fipecl.
'Im. b/i
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SJ
College, Quinci/, Hi.
PRACTICAL SHORT HAND,
Or Seven Simple Principles.
■*fltc(/t 03 Speech, Plain as Pi-inl, Easy as A B C"
I WEEKS, by tukll, 2 faoura a dij, or 48
E. J. MARCH. Prea. Scio CoUege, Scio. 0.
The course of study embraces the most thurouf,-li and L-umplete theoretical aud actual business training in the world,!
Scholarships good in either College. Students may enter at any time with equal advantages.
LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, good in either College, entitling the holder tc- all the advantages of the Commercial Course, and
by any other Business College. It will pay young men and
are to be had in each school.
The Institutions are in direct communication with the leading business men in aU parts of the country, and students
are helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difficulty in securing' honorable and
lucrative employment.
The Faculty are gentlemen of well-known ability and experience, and the prop«"ietors will be pleased to furnish infor-
mation to those interested, upon application, either in person or by letter.
-A.d.d.ress
CLARK &L JOHNSON,
Erie, Fa., or B-u.ffalo, 3sr. "2".
Job 1 Commercial Pritititig.
IBest JUateriaft
iSest Wor fiftieif^
Iti €v«ry Res^^ct a fust-Class £stabUsl)iti€nt,
ESXINIATES KURNISHED PROMRTLY.
Sfyv rrvA/fjf ^smr^s /w <?*/ muii:.
VOLUMES FIRST AND SECOND
I IL« Tr.-at!«« we now ready fur ihu public. It conWiOi
IG bPHUllliilly prlDlcd pag(.'», upoD ulgHy-pnund bool
ook Journal, Cwh Book, Ledger
" The American Penman " and " Clark's Piogressiv
print'"! by the Dispatch Printing Company.
No. 8 East SeveMffi St.,
1 by n. 0.
rory Busiue-a ColUm
Academy, UIgh ikho.
adopting It.
VolDme Plru or Second sent to any aOOr*
paid, npon receipt of O N E DOLLAR.
SHe, l^a» I
CLARE & JOHNSON,
f.t CLARK'S BUSINESS COLLEOBS,
Erie, fit., ana B'/JTala, X K.
\
BSTERKD A3 TUB POST-OFFtCB
SBCOSD-CLA SS MA TTKR.
H. C CLARK- Editor. ,
S. A. DRAKE, Associate Ed!lor.
CLARK & JOHNSON, Proprietors.
ERG, PA./an!i 3JPFAL0, N. Y„ OCTOBER mi NCVEM32R,
VoJ. 1-Nos. 10-11.
There is a great truth set forth In the
above words. Men in all the different
walks of life have gained many things,
and it has in every instance been the re-
(tult of " skill." There is many a young
man who starts out in life's work with-
out money, but he has, instead, a
weapon to which the mighty dollar
must yield, and that is skill. The one
who gets on in the world best need not
of necessity have the largest number of
dollars, but he must have skill, for there
are no great achievements without it.
The successful lawyer or doctor does not
obtain prommence because he controls
the most wealth, for if this were true,
many a brilliant light that now shines
before the world would have been con-
signed to oblivion.
At the third annual Commencement
of Clark's Business Colleges the class
saw proper to adopt the heading of this
article for its motto, and in so doing
^ they showed that they comprehended
the practical value of these words.
Out of the thousands of young men
who patronize the business college a very
' small per cent, have sufficient " money
I capital" with which to begin business,
1 and to some it might seem discouraging,
I but to others it is a stUinulus to greater
i effort.
I Of course money is a ne(
t is neither the beginning nc
i it only serves a purpose
I commercial world.
There is a glorious futun
every onewhopoesesses the necessary ele
, ments to success, and we recommend to
every one the advantages of a sound
business education as the best invest-
! ment with which to begin life. Do not
put it off. You should begin now. Re-
member that " Skill is Capital."
ssity, but it
the end, for
n the great
in store for
Many of the best informed persons in
this country are those who do not hesi-
tate to express themselves as having im-
plicit confidence in commercial educa-
tion, and to the extent that they send
their sons and daughters to the Busi-
ness C'oUege so that they may receive
such advantages as will best equip them
for the battle of life.
It is not many years, since the public
schools and literary colleges were con-
demning commercial schools, and in
fact were the avowed enemies to practi-
cal education. But now all is changed.
We find the leading classical school-,
high schools and academies introducing
commercial studies as a part of their
curriculum, and doing what they can
to promote the interests of business
education.
Now why is this ? Is it not beoause of
the urgent public demand for such in-
struction ? Most certainly, and had
these " opponents " to the best educa-
tion ever devised for all practical pur-
poses been aroused to its importance a
few years earlier, it would have been all
the better, but be that as it may, we
congratulate the sensible teacher who is
ever ready to hold up to the world the
advantages of commercial instruction.
Now while it is true that there are a
large number of schools throughout the
country that are becoming thoroughly
identified with business education as a
port of their work. ne\ertheles8 it must
be acknowledged that there is no other
place where young men and ladies can
receive such general advantages as in a
good business college. Why ? Because
the commercial college has but one pur-
pose or object in view, and that is to
successfully prepare its pupils for busi-
ness; therefore, when one enters such a
school there are not demands made upon
him, here and there, to divert his atten-
tion from the commercial studies. We
are of the opinion that it is better for any
person to pursue the commercial course
alone, rather than to burden himself
with several other branches, that in all
probability would add little, if any, to
his business qualifications. Then again,
a thorough-going business college does
not depend upon theory alone to en-
lighten its students, but believes in the
motto: "The way to learn how to do a
thing is to do it"; therefore, the intro-
duction of business practice. The art
of buying and selling, and keeping a
systematic record of the same is very
interesting, especially to a student, who
for the first time is seemingly launched
upon the sea of commerce, and he for
the first time finds out that he must
"sink or swim." In most cases he will
swim ashore, bringing his profits with
Six weeks' time spent in a thorough,
actual business college is worth five
years in a school of theory. Business
education can and does do more for its
possessors than a thousand times it^
The time has come when
assert their rights and be respected all
the more for earning a livelihood, either
as amanuenses, clerks, cashiers, or book-
keepers, and in not a few instances as
proprietors. There is no good reason
why women, if they make the neces-
sary preparation, should not go to the
front in commercial aflfairs. as it is uni-
versally conceded that in many of the
most important positions women have
been found to pay closer attention to
details, less liable to engage in specula-
tions, and are more careful in making
investments than men. There is
among the thousands of government
clerks at Washington a decided prefer-
ence for ladies, as they are found to be
more trustworthy, doing the work at
least just as satisfactorily as could be ex-
pected of the opposite sex, In New
York City many of the leading mer-
chants are makhig room for and actu-
ally employing women for positions
that a few years ago it was thought
could only be filled by men. What can
be said of New York in this particular,
may be said of other cities throughout
the United States, and young women de-
siring to get a successful start in life
need a sound business education.
The business colleges are enrolling a
larger number of lady students this sea-
son than ever before, and it will so con-
tinue, year by year, until young ladies
will be found in even greater numbers
in commercial schools throughout the
A young lady with a good business
education will make a better wife than
the one who does not possess such
knowledge. She will be found an in-
valuable assistant to her husband, and
in many instances her wise counsels will
help him on to fortune. The young lady
who has a business education is better
fitted for any position in life, and even if
she intends to be an " old maid " it will
be a solace to her in her lonely days.
The demand for skillful lady stenogra-
phers and book-keepers is much greater
than the supply, and there is no reason
why any young lafly Avith a good busi-
ness education should not readily com-
mand a salary of from fifty to one hun-
dred and fifty dollars per month.
I Young lady ! do not defer this matter,
: but take the advice of a friend and ob-
t-ain a sound business education at your
earliest convenience. You will never
regret it, but on the other hand will
thank the one who thus prompted you
to get the right kind of a start in the
world.
My ideal of a great lawyer is that
great linglieh attorney whoaccumulateil
a fortune of £1,000,000. and left it all in a
will to make a home for idiots, declaring
that he wanted to give it back to the
people from whom he took it. — Robt. In-
f/crsoU.
There is hope for a dull boy who
thirsts for knowledge; but I don't take
much stock in a genius who knows it all
without study.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
If all the advice that has been given
to young men from time to time, could
be gathered together and published, it
would make the largest book ever is-
gued. But if we are to sift the sayings
and instructions of great men. v.e find
that they all bear directly upon one
point, and that, character building. It
is a great thing to be an example for
others to follow, and it is even greater
to have the will to be a man. The last
words ever uttered by the late John B.
Qougb were: "Young man, keep your
record clean." Of course, there are ex-
cuses oflfered here and there, by young
men as to why they commit some follies
beneath their manhood, although there
is no excuse good enough, or for any
reason, that will exonerate one from
ignorance, which is the twin brother to
crime. The young men of America have
the grandest opportunities for achieving
success of any of the sons of other na-
tions, and all they have to do is go forth
with an "aim" in life, bending all their
efTorts in that direction, and their hopes
will be satisfactorily rewarded.
In a recent address to the graduating
tlass of Clark's College, the famous
preacher, Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, said:
■' Remember, among other things, it is
iilways safe to do right and never safe to
do wrong. • •, • If you do not find
openings just here, come East or go
West. There is a place marked out for
you just as certain as you are there, my
brother ; • * • a place marked out
for you for life by an almighty God, who
knew your temperament and all your
temptations, and knows all about you
better than you know yourself. A
sphere of duty and of success marked
out. and you just have to put yourself
in the line of the Divine leadings. If
you are happy here you will be happy
forever. All parts of this land are open-
ing now as never before. Do not stop at
any one point and say, because things
are filled up, professions here and mer-
chandise there, and this here and that
there; go further, and look out this
land. We are just opening tl?e outside
doors of the wealth of this country."
Verily, all the young men of this coun-
try need to do is to go to work in earnest.
Seek knowledge. Be honest and indus-
trious. Do not dream of success, but go
in search of it. Get an education that
will prepare vou for the work you in-
tend to do. Never say fail, but despise
luck and stick to pluck. Do not let go
until you have won the victory. Aim
high. Do not be in a hurry. Strike
PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
The following is. in substance, a con-
versation between two men while going
home on the train. The older and ap-
parently more experienced siid to his
neighbor: "Last night my boy came
home with this problem: 'A workman
engaged to labor for 50 days Every
day he worked he received $2.50, and
every day he was idle he forfeited $2.
At the end of the time he received $116.
How many days was he idle?' I call
suck examples puzzles. My children are
required to spend altogether too umeh
time over such useless work. Of what
practical service can it be? No such
occur in business. The money cannot
be paid to find the number of days he
was idle. As there stated it is a '13 14
15' puzzle, and of no better help to pre-
pare the young mind for life's duties.
No man can afford to send his cliildren
to school to spend their time upon
puzzles — so-called examples that have
no relation to practical life."
" But, my friend," said the younger,
"these puzzles have their value as a
means for discipline of mind."
"Ah," returned the other, "are there
not to be found many problems that
afford better mental exercise, and, at
the same time, convey to the child's
mind some idea of business matters?
Suppose a promising young man wished
to learn the blacksmith's trade, and you
would give him a sledge and ask him to
pound the boulder rocks several hours
a day in order that he might develop his
muscles, If the youth had any ambition
at all he never would make a black-
smith. While exercising his muscles he
could leani something useful. Life is
too short to pound stone merely for the
sake of developing muscle."
" What would you suggest as a remedy
for this state of aflfairs?" queried the
"In the first place, by using text-
books that contain only practical,
^iniiyh(r«iwai-d problems. The variouK
active employments furnish
number of examples that, in analysis,
are sufficiently difficult to exercise the
keenest intellect and at the same time
impart some idea of the methods of
transacting business. It is not neces-
.sary to put them in unnatural forms and
obscure language. Our children study
arithmetic from the age of eight years
to 14, and many of them are not able to
solve ordinary business problems that
come uj> every day in mercantile life.
A few days ago I asked my boys, who
receive more than average marks of
scholarshij) in their school work and ex-
aminations, to give me the result of an
investment. The example was a simple
one in percentage. They did not know
definitely what to do; they tried this
way and then another, as they would if
it was an enigma, and they were as
certain of the true result. I was dis-
appointed, and tliey were disappointed;
yes, more, they were discouraged. It is
not strange that people are looking for
better results from our schools Some
call for industrial schools; others would
turn our languages and bring in the
sciences; all these will fail to give the
child a better preparation for life unless
the matter is brought to them in a way
to induce pupils to think and to observe
what is going on about them. It is true,
as Garfield has said, Mark Hopkins as a
teacher, and a log to sit upon, is a better
university for a young man than fine
buildings, with libraries and labratories,
and with mechanical professors to guide
them. Only to-day a lady showed me a
set of examination questions A single
example out of the ten in arithmetic
had any reference to practical matters,
and that was stated impractically. In
the same set was the following: 'How
high does the sun appear above the
horizon at Chicago? At Quito? Cut
honor What has that to do with health,
wealth or happiness? There was not a
hint in the whole set as to the cause of
typhoid fever, of catarrh or of con-
sumption. What would you do to pre-
vent any of these? What constitutes
wholesome food" What cleanliness?
How is proper ventilation best secured?
What care should be taken of the eyes?
What position of the body at the desk?
Not one word about these practical,
things which every one ought to know
and to put into practice almost daily."
"After children are able to apply the
fundamental rules in arithmetic to in-
tegers, fractions and decimals they are
ready to begin book-keeping in a prac-
tical way, in connection with which
they can learn ali applications of
arithmetic. If this, instead of arithme-
tic, were pursued during the last three
years of the grammar school their at-
tention would be called to many things
that induce observation and thought-
Do not understand me that I would de-
sire all the work now repeated. Not at
all, but, on the contrary. I would cut
out a great deal of the routine and ab-
stract, and in their places put something
of life — in short, have children begin
life in school. Much study is required
simply to enable the teacher to know
that the scholar lias learned his lesson.
If a boy. with or without assistance, dis-
covers, for instance, that the number of
pounds of hay expressed in thousands
multiplied by half the price per ton
always gives the correct result, is it
necessary that he should commit to
memory and recite a long rule so that
the teacher can mark him? Principles
are always better understood by their
applications, and children will make
them if they are not hindered from do-
ing so. More than one instance is
known to me of persons who had no
instructions in arithuietic beyond 'frac-
tions,' and ytt they are rapid and accu-
rate in all their business calculations "
TO A HOME STUDENT.
Epsom, N. H., Oct. 27, 1886.
My Young Friend .-—Your letter, mak-
ing enquiries as to the best methods of
practicing writing, has been received.
I am very glad to give you a few words
of advice and encouragement -not as a
perfect writer, but as one who has made,
with some success, a study of writing at
home without a teacher in person.
I should judge by the tone of your
letter that you are really in earnest and
full of enthusiasm. I am glad of this,
for without interest or enthusiasm you
will be likely to find advancement in
anything impossible, or at any rate very
slow. If you are as much in earnest as
I think you are you will be ready and
willing to work. If I can so direct you
as to make your work effective the bat-
tle is well started. Then what you need
to bring it to a successful close is a good
stock of patience and perseverance,
coupled with intelligent labor.
And right here let me say. do not over-
look the importance of knowing what
you are trying to do. All the training
given to your hand will amount to noth-
ing unless you distinctly understand
what you are practicing. Get a correct
idea of the fonu of uvery copy before
taking your pen and ink for its practice.
Early in your work get a general
knowledge of the whole subject. Find
out for yourself what your deficiencies
are, then set yourself at work to remedy
them. Search out fault after fault in
like manner and correct each in its turn.
In short, constitute yourself a teacher
as well as a learner.
One word more and I will tell you how
to commence work. Do not get dis-
couraged. The road to good penman-
ship is not so very long or steep. You
can travel it to the goal you are seeking.
I You will meet difRculties, but rise above
them. Others have surmounted them
and so can you.
Full of eagerness and courage you are
tiring of this talk and longing to grasp
your pen and begin work. But let us
see a moment. You must start right.
Do not expect to reach excellence with-
out obeying its law. You say that your
materials are good, and that you think
your position is good, and your move-
ment the muscular. We trust that you
are right, but do not go ahead until you
are aure that you are right. Granting
that your position is easy and natural,
and you are using the correct move-
ment, your writing is stiff and labored,
showing that your executive power
needs exercise. Yes, just what you want
is more movement — an easier way of
writing.
Begin at the beginning; practice on
the continuous ovals. First, take the
direct — master it. Then with the same
motion carry the hand forward with
every revolution, thus bringing each
stroke farther to the right than the last
preceding one. Do not shade, and let
the exercise run across the page. Keep
at this until you can make it smooth
and regular in form and motion. Next,
neatly shade every downward stroke.
When you have mastered these ex-
ercises you have accomplished a good
deal. Your luovement will now be free .
enough to execute exercises composed
of the letters themselves, and when you
have reached this stage you will find
plenty to do. Follow out any systematic
plan that embraces practice on all the
letters. And, as I close, let me wish
you much success in your work.
Very truly yours,
F. S. Heath.
The wonderful industrial development I
of the South, at present in progresH, ■
opens up many desirable positions fori
live, wide-awake accountants, offioe-J
men and business managers. The
ord of what is being done in the South J
is surprising to those who have
watched it carefully and systematically^
during the last few /cira. Among the
new enterprises reported organized for
the first thiee months of the current year
there were 4 iron furnaces, 3 cotton mills,
1!) ice factories, 17 machine shops and
foundries, !J stove foundrii's, 4 agricul-
tural implement factories, 18 flour mills,
24 tobacco factories, 7 furniture factories,
9 gas-works, 12 electric-light works, 7
carriage and wagon factories, 28 mining
companies, and 110 lumber mills, includ-
ing saw-mills, sash and door factories,
stave and coperage factories, etc Thr»
total amount of capital, including cap-
ital stock of incorporated oompanies,
invested in new manufacturing and
mining enterprises at the South, and in
the enlargement of old plants and the I
rebuilding of mills destroyed by fire dur- j
ing the first three months of 188i
gregated about $36,557,000, against only 1
about $21,000,000 for the r or responding
period of 1885. — r/ie OXHcc.
"IF I WERE RICH."
One evening, passing along a crowded
street, I heard one boy saying to an-
other: "If 1 were rich I wouldn't—"'
and then the rest of the sentence was
lost as I hurried on with the throng.
But I have wondered often how that
sentence was finished. Did the boy say :
" If I were rich I wouldn't snub my
poor relations?" or, "If I were rich 1
wouldn't spend all my money on my-
self ?" or, " If I were rich I wouldn't
work any more "—or what ? We cannot
know; but there is one thing ([uite cer-
tain. Whatever that boy does, now
that he is poor, he would do if he were
rich. If he is generous now, he would
be generous then. If he is mean now.
he would be mean then. If he works
faithfully now, he would work with fidel-
ity then. For "he that is faithful in
that which is least is faithful als<
much; and he that is unjust in the leasti
is unjust also in \\\nc\\.'''—Indianapoli9m
Junnuil ■
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
MikDE CLEAR AS DAY.
and Straddles of
ribed.
"What are ' pute," 'calls,' 'sprpadi*'
and 'straddles?' asked a|New York Mail
and Express reporter.
"Well." said John E. McCann, the
confidential clerk of Russell Sage, of
whom the question was asked, "Til tell
you if vou will promise never to men-
tion the poetical subject again. It re-
ciuires pretty deft wording to make the
thing clear, 80 it is not an exhilarating
subject to talk on. You hear a good
deal about ' puts ' and ' calls,' but I ven-
ture to say there are 50.000,000 people in
the United States who do not know
what they are, nor what the meaning is
of the word 'privileges.' Now, a privi-
lege is a contract by which the maker of
it, Russell Sage, S. V. White, Jay Gould,
or Harvey Kennedy, engages to pur
chase from the holder in one cose, or to
sell to the holder in the other case, a
number of shares of some specified
stock at a certain price, at any time I
opposite way. A man buys the privilege
of catling Western Union at 75 when it
is selling at 70. If it sells above 75 you
can call on the maker of the privilege
for a hundred shares at 75, and the hun-
dred shares are thus bought by the
holder for $7,500, and he turns around
and sells it at 80 if the stock is selling
there, and pockets the difference."
"What about 'spreads' and 'strad-
dles ?' "
"A 'ftraddle' is a 'put' and 'call'
combined. The holder of one may 'put'
stock to the maker of the privilege or
•cair for it. 'Straddles' come high,
because there is money in them which-
ever way the market may go. If the
market does not go at all, but stands
still, why the maker is in the money he
has been paid for the privilege, usvially
about 3 per cent., or $300. A 'spread'
is also a 'put' and a 'call' combined,
but there is this difference: a ' straddle '
is made at the market. That is to say,
the maker of the privilege takes the risk
that the stock in question does not move
to any extent from the price at which it
Sir. Sage agreed to take these stocks at
a price which was considerably above
the market price. During five days Mr.
Sage paid out what few men in New
York were probably able to pay out—
about $4,000,000 in solid cash. He kept
on deposit then, and he does now, $5,-
000.000 in available money at the Im-
porters' & Trotiers' Bank. Since that
excitement the probability is that Mr.
Sage has drawn out of this very business
on ' puts ' and "calls ' more money than
he then paid out. A great deal of the
stock certificates which were then put to
him he held and realized when the mar-
ket advanced.''
Pew
The functions of the expert acoountr WHY MEN FAIL,
ant are, perhaps, less understood by the
business community at large than it
would be well to have them. They may
be summed up under several heads,
among which may be mentioned — first,
planning; and remodelling books so as
to adapt them to special requirements ;
second, auditing books and verifying ! Others fail tb:
the balance-sheets; third, adjusting and I discretion,
warrant, simply because of the lack of
ability upon the part of their em-
ployers to perceive their real valn-v
The introduction of an expert to over-
look and criticize their work, in many
instances gives them a better standing
with their prhicipals than it would be
possible to secure by any other means.
Their work is passed upon by one com-
petent to express an opinion, and aleu
by one in whose statements the propri-
etors have confidence. The employ-
ment of expert accountants is appar-
ently upon the increase, and the busi-
ness community will undoubtedly gain
thereby.— TAe O^Ucc.
up to their highest
Some fail through
timidity, or lack of nerve. They are
unwilling to take the risks incident to
life, and fail through fear in venturing
on ordinary duties. They lack pluck.
igh imprudence, lack of
, or sound judgment.
sr^/f^y-^.
(^.L^. /M(?^
(^-.^^^^^^A^^cyy^c^g^e^u^^
/€^ y^^^^^^y^'^/tnf^ .^f't^^-i'O'^^^ ^'<^UA.^-?n^
i,M^y^€^U9^''^
within a certain period, at the option
of the holder. Got that?
"A 'call ' is a privilege bought of the
maker, at a certain price, and the owner
of it is privileged to call for a certain
amount of stock at a given price, within
thirty, sixty, or ninety days, four or six
months. If a man holds a 'put,' he has
the right to deliver to the maker of the
privilege a stock at a certain agreed
price within a certain number of days.
Clear ? No ? Well, let's try once more.
"Suppose Western Union is selling at
70. A man wants a sixty-day ' put ' on
it at 06, because he believes the stock is
going down. He gives Mr. Sage. Mr.
White, Mr. Kennedy, or Mr. Gould I
per cent, on the amount of stock he
wants to deal in A hundred shares is
usual, and 1 per cent, is $100. He re-
(■eives in return a slip of paper signed
hy either one or the other of these gen-
tlemen. Then if Western Union goes
below 60 within sixty days he may buy
it for whatever it is selling for below
that price, and ' put ' it to the maker of
the privilege at the price agreed on—OC
—and receive a check for $C,COO The
holder makes the difference. Ah, you
understand ? If Telegraph does not go
below G6 the holder is out his $100 The
'call' business operates exactly in the
is selling when the privilege is sold. In
a 'spread' the maker has more leeway.
If Western Union is selling at 70, to go
back to the old illustration, the maker
of the privilege sells a 'spread,' say at
67 and 80. If it goes below 67 the holder
can ■ put ' the stock and make the dif-
ference, and if it goes above 80 the
holder can 'call' at that price and reap
the profits. But so long as the price of
the stock keeps within those points the
maker of the privilege is safe. To put
it in another way, the holder of a ' strad-
dle' will make if the market for the
stock he is dealing in moves at all. The
holder of a 'spread ' doe.'^n't make any-
thing until the market moves past cer-
tain limits. There is one thing more :
the maker of a privilege only receives
the money for which he sells the privi-
lege, while the holder may make thous
ands — or nothing.
"The mention of 'puts' and 'calls'
recalls perforce the exciting times two
years ago last spring, when the market
went down with a rush and the holders
of 'puts' issued by Mr. Sage invested
his ofBce like an army. After the above
explanation it will he seen that their
privilege of putting stock to Mr. Sage
were exceeding valuable. Their privi-
leges were so many contracts whereby
closing books in terms of partnership,
dissolution, agreements, etc.; and,
fourth, unravelling books and accounts
which are in a tangle. Under the first
of these heads the expert occupies a
commanding position as compared with
the ordinary book-keeper, from the fact
that he has wide and varied experience,
and accordingly can do more than even
an equally competent man who bos been
restricted to ordinary lines of practice.
Under the second head the expert's sys-
tematic training is a continuous safe-
guard against errors and frauds, and a
satisfaction as well to those in charge of
cash as to those interested in the profits.
Under the third head the expert sees
that all questions of depreciations, re-
newals, drawbacks, doubtful debts and
other contingencies are duly considered,
while under the fourth head his trained
and practiced skill finds clues in a mass
of confusion, and soon determines the
shortest way out. The position of the
expert accountants is like that of the \
lawyer; absolute secrecy is, of course, |
an inviolable obligation. Many book- 1
keepers feel that the work of the expert i
accountant is, in a measure, opposed to i
their own. The reverse of this is the I
case. Frequently book-keepers are far
less appreciated than their real merits
They over-estimate the future, build air
castles, and venture beyond their depth,
and fail and fail.
Others, again, fail through lack of ap-
plication and perseverance. They begin
with good resolves, but soon get tired of
that and want a change, thinking they
can do umch better at something else.
Thus they fritter life away, and succeed
at nothing. Others waste tune and
money, and fail for want of economy.
Many fail through ruinous habits— to-
bacco, whiskey and beer, spoil them for
business, drive their best customers
from them, and scatter their prospects
of success. Some fail for want of
brains, education and fitness for their
vailing. They lack a knowledge of
human nature and of the motives that
actuate men They have not (lualified
themselves for their occupation by prac-
tical education. — Sfliool Supplement.
Some look upon successes and failure^^
as lucky accidents or calamitous miss
chances, and wonder what the next tuin
of fortune's wheel is to bring them.
Others profit by both, and by studying
their causes, and the laws which govern
them, become wiser and more able to
insure a permanent and steady succe(-><
in the future.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
The ArneriGan Penrnafl*
Published Bi-Monthly at 30c Per Year,
By Clark & Johnson, Proprietors. Erie,
Pa., and Buffalo. N Y.
single copies of Tbb
mulled to aoy addreBs oi
pie copies antll rurtber d
ADVERTISING RATES.
One Column.
...' IIS 00
tSO 00 »5
H rear.
»80 00
Qnartor Colnnm ....
One Inch
:, lu,
'Im
fnlll further notice we will given redoctioa of 39 s
per cent, from above rates to all advertisers paying
cash wllbin60 days from dale of contract.
IteudlDg matter will be Inserted at lu cents per
given on Reading Matter Kalea.
All advenisements of |6 or less must be paid in
SPECIAL INDUCEMENT.
B from all pans of the country, and e
persons subscribing before January 1st, 1S87, will r
cclve a copy one year for 2fi cents. When a c;nb (
s to 10 ta sent. It will be furnished for 2f) cents eacl
PREMIUMS.
i remitting One Dollar we wll
unlU further notice, mall a copy of Volume First o
Clark's Progressive Book-keeping and the Aubrioai
Pbmuan tor one year, or we will present a copy o
8 of Sook-keeping to any one sending i
Thk editor has been on thi; sick list
for u few days, otherwise The Ameri
CAN Penman would iiave appeared
earlier. He promises to not do so
again ; therefore our readers will find
the pai)er out on time herealter.
DuKiNG the winter months extra
care should be exeix-ised to see that
the body is sufficiently clothed,
order that good hep.lth may be
joyed, for there is no greater blessing
to liny one.
It is not the number of complica-
ted flourished lines that is added to a
letter that indicates good penmanship,
On the other hand it shows bad taste,
and the one who can write plaimst
ami fastest is the better penman
Practice upon plain forms, writing at
rapidly as possible with the muscular
movement.
to subscribe.
1 f2.G
given the one sending the club on all sutiscrlptlons
forwarded to The ambbicam Pknuan. We prefer
to give cash premiums to those securing clubs, and
this rule will be Invariably followed.
Remittances should be made by N. Y. Draft, P. O.
Money Order, Postal Note, or Registered letter, to
CLARK & JOHNSON,
Publishers. Erie, Pa.
ERIE, PA.,
Renew your subscriptions.
The itinerant ]icnman is happy
tht'se days.
The American Penman appears
with this issue as a Bi-Monthly, and
the subscription price is only thirty
fonts ))er year. Subscribe now.
KvicHY young man seeking a start
in life ought to have a business edu-
titm. It is the best capital with which
to begin.
Considerable interest is being
manifested in commercial education
just now. Many of the Business Col-
leges rejiort the fullest attendance ever
known. __
Clark's Business Colleges, Erie
and Buffalo, are liberally patronized,
and there seems to be a growing in-
tt-rest in commercial education every-
wliere. _ _
Teachers of accounts who have
luil seen a cojjy of Clark's Progressive
Book-keeping ought to send for it, as
the work will certainly meet the ap-
pTOvjil of any live teacher.
Let every teacher, whether he be
engaged in commercial or public
school work, aim to do his be.it by his
pupils. Thej' will always remember
him kindly for any (avois he may
render.
In a recent issue The Rochester Com-
memnl Review acknowleges its mis-
takes us shown in the September
number of The American Penman,
and claims satisfaction because the
Penman republished its opinion of
life scholarships. Well, we are satisfied
too, and are heartily glad that the
Review can find so much comfort in
such an article. Strange, isn't it !
The specimens of improvement
shown in this ^sue of the Penman in-
dicate what any young person can do
if he places himself under proper in-
struction. Neither Mr. Scheithe nor
Mr. Powers possess any ability more
than the average, and their improve-
ment is the result of careful study
and practice. There are many others
that could do just as well if they were
to put forth the efibrt.
Some yeai-s ago a wealthy resident
of the State of Pennsylvania sent his
daughter away to scliool, a commend-
able act in itself, but she had been
in school only a few weeks when the
father called on tlie principal to ascer-
tain how his daughter was getting
along with her studies. The principal
informed the fond parent that his
daughter would do considerable better
if she had the capacity. "Well ! well!
never mind that, I will buy her one,"
eagerly remarked the flither, and he
was greatly enraged when he found
out that it would take more money
than he could command to pur-
chase it.
It seems strange that in this en-
lightened country there are so many
who cling to the belief that good
writing is either the result of practice
alone, or else of a special gift from
God. Either opinion is too erroneous
for consideration, and we only call at-
tention to it to show the folly of peo-
ple in holding to such opinions. The
writer has generally observed that it
is in nearly every instance the jjoor
writers who wish to excuse their hor-
rible scribbling by putting foith either
one of the argument's just cited, and if
they were to st<jp and think a little
while, they would not be quite so un-
reasonable. The secretof good writing
rests on two conditions, viz.: a person
who is willing to learn, and one who
can learn. The poor writer who pos-
sesses these two elements can take
courage.
ARITHMETfC.
By J. C. Ryan, Teacher of Accounts In Clark s
College, Buffalo, N. Y.
The object of all Business College
students is to prepare themselves for the
ordinary business of life, and such being
the case, it should be thfl object of the
teacher to teach only such parts of
arithmetic as are CBsential to such prepa-
ration, and to teach them in such a
manner that the student may acquire
the most thorough knowledge of them
in the least time. The first thing to be
considered is what parts of arithmetic
are essential to the business man, and as
the average young man,entering upon a
business career, is found to be deficient
in arithmetic, I would recouimend that
the primary elements be first thoroughly
mastered. Of course it is not to be sup-
posed that a student entering upon a
business course knows nothing of this
part of arithmetic, but practice is re-
quired to make him quick and accurate.
Rapidity and accuracy are the two most
essential things the business man knows.
And aa we are constantly dealing with
parts of things in nearly all that remains
of commercial arithmetic, fractions de-
serve a more careful study than any
other part of the subject. I dare say if
we were to go back and ask the ques-
tion. Why we invert the terms of the
divisor when dividing by a fraction ? we
would find that nine-tenthsof our teach-
ers had never given it n single thought.
Too umch stress cannot possibly be
placed upon the subject. It
necessary that the student should have
a thorough knowledge of denominate
numbers, as a great many industries
which he may engage will require it.
Next comes percentage, in which
everything necessary to complete th
course is involved. It is the terminus of
all that comes before it, and should at
all tunes be taught in connection with
common fractions.
It is true that some of the subjects of
which I have spoken do not properly
belong to commercial arithmetic, but as
I have already stated, a great many of
our students are found to be very de-
ficient in them, and such being the
it becomes a necessity to give some
attention to those parts as well as to
others.
The question now arises: How can
they be successfully taught? and right
here I will venture the assertion that if
the text^books were abolished entirely,
and a part of the time which is gen-
ally spent in class by solving compU-
cated problems, which by such man-
agement the student will never un-
derstand, was spent by the teacher
together with his student in discus-
ing thoroughly the subject of their
lesson, and the remainder in solving
practical examples mentally, together
with as much blackboard work as the
teacher may deem necessary.it would be
found much uiore advantageous to the
student, and he would thereby become
a mathematician rather than a mathe-
matical machine.
A great deal of time is generally spent
in committing rules and formulas, and
solving problems by their directions.
This I consider one of the greatest
stumbling blocks that can be placed be-
fore the student. I would not advise
their use under any circumstances.
Time spent in this way, as well as in
teaching a student to solve some com-
plicated problem, is no better than
thrown away.
The instructions of the teacher should
be such as will tend to develop the tnen-
tal faculty. This well done, the compli-
cated work will take core of itself, and
while giving such instruction he should
bear in mind that familiarity with the
language of the book does not imply
knowledge of its meaning. When com-
plicated work becomes a necessity there
is no more use for a teacher If he hae
thus far done his work well.
The skillful teacher will show the con-
nection of each new topic with the
topic already mastered, and thus make
the pupil realize that he is dealing with
principles already learned; but varied or
extended, he will anticipate the difficul-
ties arising in the lessons, and give suoh
explanations beforehand as will enable
the student to perform his tasks intelli-
gently and accurately. Teachers too
often expect luore of pupils than is rea-
sonable. They should remember that
they are dealing with immature minds,
and must not think that pupils will
readily grasp ideas that seem plain and
clear to themselves. Patient repetition
of instruction is an excellent virtue i
teaching; thoroughness will secure moi
rapid progress than long lessons. If at
any time it becomes necessary to intro-^
duce work that is in any way complioa- j
ted, the teacher can, by exercising i
little energy, furnish such as will have
the desu-ed efl'eet, and furnish it at a
time when needed. While if he adopte
the use of the text-book he will engage
in complicated work too soon, and thoftj
discourage the student entirely. Its c
as a guide will do very well, but th^
teacher who depends upon it for any- J
thing else will some day awake from an
ignorant sluiuber only to find that Wb
work, regardless of his many efforts, has
been a complete failure.
The present is the age of practical ed-
ucation. Manual training schools are In
some measure superseding those in
which theory is taught exclusively. The
apprentice system in the mechanical
trades is broken down, and the hope of
the country for mechanics and artisans
for the future is in the new system of in-
struction which is so rapidly becoming
popular. But many who are advocat-
ing the new order of things enthusias-
tically have in the past put themselves
on record as opposed to the commercial
schools of the country. The prejudice
which has existed against business
schools, upon the part of practical busi-
ness men in the past, has been almost
phenomenal ; and while it is not at pres-
ent so apparent as it was a few years
since, it still exists to an extent to war-
rant mention. The facts of the case are
that the business schools of the country
the pioneers in the direction
of practical education— that is, they
among the tirst to institute practi-
cal training in the direct lines in which
a young man's life is to be spent and by
which his livelihood is to be gained.
The commercial schools have greatly
improved in the last ten or fifteen years,
and to-day there are many of them oc-
cupying positions that it seemed impossi-
ble for such institutions to attain even
a short time since. The graduates of
the best schools of this class at present,
instead of being the laughing stock of
the business men, as were some of those
who took diplomas in the past, com-
mand positions comparable in responei- .
bility and importance, to those secured J
by young engineers and graduates of '
:olleges devoted to (he professione.
This is as it should be and we allude to
these facts only in the sense of showing
the rapid progress that practical educa-
tion is making.— r/ie Office.
A young lady book-keeper, who ha« ^
:st married, says that there ,'ihall be r
side door to her house. She proposes to j
keep her husband on the single-entry |
stem.— Burlinf/fott J'Vee Press.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
HOW HE FOUND THE ERROR.
The Ilea*! book-keeper of one of the
larf^est sewing-machine maniifHcturin^
coiiipanieg in this city refuses to beHeve
in occult philosophy, and is unable to
account for an experience that he had
some time ago. "In balancing luy
books," he said, "there appeared an
error of $5, insiguitlcant enough in it-
self, but to a book-keeper, as big as
*500or 15,000. Having five assistants,
I set one of them at work to find the
mistake. He failed to discover it, and
after three days I put another man on
its track, then a third, a fourth, and at
last, after a week, a fifth. They were
all capable men, and searched diligent-
ly for the missing $5. but were unable
to find it. They worked together all
the next week, but accomplished noth-
ing. The figures stood as before. $5
out of balance, and then I set to work
myself. Night and day we pored over
the big books, but still discovered no
change. The matter began to annoy
me exceedingly, for never before had I
known such an experience.
" For a whole week the sis of us
toiled in vain, I could not sleep for
lay down and fell into a deep sleep,
from which I did not awake until 9
o'clock ou Monday morning. After a
hearty breakfast I Iiastened to the of-
fice, feeling like a new luan. It seemed
as if a burden had fallen from me, and
1 was walking on air. But when I
reached the door I drew back Had I
been dreaming ? No. There was the
memorandum in my hand. Trem-
blingly I opened the book, and. sure
enough, there was the error. I never
told how I found it. I did not want to
be laughed at, and then I was certain
that I was not dreaming on that Sun-
day morning " — jVew Vurk Tribune.
LESSON IN PENMANSHIP.
BY S. A. DRAKE.
No. :i.
Most students of penmanship, at the
beginning, find themselves handicapped
by an awkward position and an un-
eteady, spasmodic movement, which must
before they can achieve
learning real pen?nan8hip,
and in consequence of this fact it will be
found necessary to give much attention,
at the outset, to establishing a suitable
position and movement. For this pur-
this letter is simply the loop and the
last part of the n united.
The student should avoid falling into
the error of making a curved or shaded
line for the downward stroke in forming
the loop, and in the A he should notice
that the last downward stroke is a
straight line on the main alanf and con-
sequently parallel to the downward
stroke in the loop.
In the /■ we have the loop, a /eft curve
upward one and one-fourth spaces, an
oval turn and right curve downward
and to the left onp-half space, and a
straight line downward to the base,
terminating in an oval turn and right
curve. The last downward line should
be straight and but one-half space from
the loop.
All of these letters should be thor-
oughly studied and practiced alone,
after which they may be employed in
short words. It is not well to practice
upon a great variety of forms at one
time- A single short word is sufficient
to occupy the student's attention for
half an hour at a time.
The h inverted presents the form of
the letter i/. The first part consists of
the left curve upward, an oval turn, a
straight line downward to the base,
another oval turn and right curve ap-
terminating in a flattened loop resting
on the base line.
The X consists of the sixth principle
and a left curve drawn from the top
downward to base, terminating in an
oval turn The last downward stroke is
but slightly curved.
While we have endeavored, by a mi-
nute description of each letter, to im-
press upon the learner's mind the forms
he should imitate.he will discover that he
must depend chiefly upon a close ami
critical study of the letters as presented
in the copies, in order to fix firndy in his
mind the lorni he hopes to gain suffi-
cient skill to make. One must have n
clear comprehension of what constitutes
a correct letter beforu he can execute
such letter. He can never learn to make
beautiful letters by making something
very different. The general style of
letters that is accepted as the standard
by masters of the art of writing, is that
best adapted to the purpose for which it
is intended. Into these forms there
enter all the elements of desirable pen-
manship as far as mere form is con-
cerned. They possess beauty, legibility
and simplicity, and admit of easy ancl
rapid execution, and these forms every
student of writing should thoroughly
master.
TTff
/v2^ /l^z^^^-z^^^^^^TT^'
/^^
thinking of the error, which now
seemed as big as a mountain on m;
shoulders. I did not enjoy my meals,
and when Saturday night came I was
miserable and utterly broken down in
body and mind. My employers insisted
upon my dropping the matter. It was
too small, they said, to worry over.
But I thought differently. My reputa-
tion was at stake.
"On the third Sunday after the search
was begun I got up late, after a sleep-
less night, and started out walking for
exercise. My mind was on my books,
and I paid no attention to the direction
1 took. My surprise, therefore, was
genuine when I found myself at the
door of the company's office in Union
Square, for I certainly had not intend-
ed to go there. Mechanically I put my
hand in my pocket, drew out the key,
opened the door and went in. As if
in a dream, I walked directly to the
office, where I turned the combination
and unlocked the safe. There were the
books, a dozen of them in a row. I did
not consider for one moment which to
pick up. It was no act of volition on
my part that my hand moved toward a
certain one and drew it from the safe.
Placing it on the desk, I opened it, my
eye ran along the column of figures,
and there before lue, plain as day, was
the missing $5. I made a note of the
page, put back the book into the safe,
and went home. It was then noon. I
pose, chiefly, the preceding lessons pre-
sented many movement exercises, though
they involve the use of the simpler ele-
mentary principles of small letters and
capitals, thereby serving two ends.
Having studied the simpler forms of
letters presented in the preceding les-
sons, the student is prepared to enter
upon the study of the extended letters,
those involving the use of the fourth
principle, or extended looj}. This prin-
ciple consists of a right curve carried
upward three spaces, an oval tarn at the
top, a straiffht line downward crossing
the ascending stroke one space from the
base line. The straight line is drawn
on the main slant, or fifty-two degrees
from the base line. The loop should be
one-half space in width and two spaces
in length.
The ( is formed by adding a right
curve to the lower extremity of the
straight line in the loop.
The b is like the /, except that the
added right curve, one space in length, |
is carried upward one-half space from
the straight line and completed by a
horizontal right curve carried well down-
ward. The last two curves should not
be so joined as to form a loop.
In forming the h we have a loop to
which is added a left curve carried up-
ward one space, and uniting, in an aval
turn, with a utraight line carried down
to b.ise. terminating in an oval turn and
right curve. It will be observed that
ward one space, to which is added on
inverted loop.
The inverted loop added to the first
part of the a constitutes the letter g.
The y consists of a right curve upward
joined to the inverted loop and having a
dot one space above the angle.
In the f the straight line of the direct
loop is carried below the base two spaces,
where, in an oval turn, a right curve is
added on the right side and carried up-
ward one-half space above the base
line, at which point it touches the de-
scending line and is finished by a hori-
zontal right curve. The lower loop is
! one-half space in width.
The capitals M, K, (^ and A' presented
in the copies all involve the use of the
sixth principle. From the middle point
of the downward stroke in this principle
a right curve is carried upward one
space, where an oval turn is made, from
which a straight line is drawn to base,
another left curve upward two spaces,
an oval turn, a, straight line to base ter-
minating in an oval turn and right
curve completes the letter M.
In the /iTwe have the sixth principle,
a compound curve carried downward
from the top to the middle of the first
part, a small loop and compound curve
to base terminating in an oval turn. I
The Q consists of the sixth principle
with the lower extremity of the last
downward stroke carried well to the left '
TO THE BOYS.
Boys, are you looking out for your-
selves ? Are you saving all the money
you can ? Are you using your spare
time to the best advantage 1 I have no
doubt but you all would like to make
your mark in the world and become in-
fluential and respected citizens. But
whether you obtain the object of your
ambition or not lies within yourselves.
Of course, it costs a great deal of self-
denial and a vast outlay of brains and
muscle, but the reward you will reap in
after life will more than compensate for
all your work.
If you are economical in the use of
your money, the time will come when
you will have an opportunity to strike
out for yourselves. But if you haven't
saved your money and are not ready,
tlie opportunity will pass on to some one
else, never to return again. So, boys,be
wide awake to your own interests. See
how you stand. See if you are on the
right road to success. If not, get there
as soon as possible. If you have fast
companions, give them up at once.
(iive balls, theatres and the like a wide
berth. Spend your spare time in im-
proving your mind. Take up some use-
ful and interesting study, and at the end
of the year see how nmoh you have
gained by looking out for yourself. Try
it awhile, boys, and see how it works, —
American Grocer.
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
SMILE WHENEVER YOU CAN.
When things don't go io suit you
And the world seems upside down,
Don't waste your lime in fretting.
But drive away that frown;
Since life is oft pciplexing,
'Tis much the wisest plan
To bear all trials bravely
And smile whene'er you can.
Why should you dread the morrow.
And thus despoil to-day ?
For when you borrow trouble
You always have to pay.
It is a good old maxim,
Which should be often preached —
Don't cross the bridge before you
Until the bridge is reached.
You might be spared much sighing
If you would keep in mind,
The thought that good and evil
Are always here combined.
There must be something wanting,
And though you roll in wealth
You may miss from your casket
That precious jewel— health.
BusinesB is a const-ant struggle, an evei
continuing couipetition for the lead
Some men go up, but many go down
It behooves every mi n to take all honor
able means to draw trade to bin place o:
business. If not, his more judicious and
enterprising competitors will secure the
very customers who should have been
his. Putting all else even, the courteous
dealer will catch and hold the most
patrons. There is hardly any one who
would not prefer to deal with a pleas-
ant, genial busines.** man in preference
to one who is solemn or sour. People
are fond of being entertained, and if a
trifle of that commodity be thrown in
with the wares the purchaser will be
pleased and not only return, but bring
other customers. We don't mean, of
course, that they sliould go to an ex-
treme or do aught that would be de-
grading, but there is a very safe dis-
tance between fawning and civilty The
one has no relation whatever to the
other and never can liave.
Every business man, and in fact every
man, will find it best to be pleasant
"BUSINESS."
I [ENtracl from an aililrcsa delivered by R. C. Spcn-
' cer, of Milwaukee. Wis., Defare lua students.]
I The definition of business, which is
the basis of our study here, of all our
; thought, and which will be the inspira-
tion of your activities after you have
passed out of this institution, is compre-
hensive. It is the soul of all worthy
human efforts. Love of life impels
every person born into the world with a
healthy organization to make some ef-
fort to sustain himself in such condition
as will make life worth living. Not con-
tent to live simply, he has a desire to
live better and better. He therefore la-
bors to improve his condition, and expe-
rience teaches that the best conditions
of life are only to be realized where
there is constant improvement. Now
the means of improvement are the
forces of nature about us, and material
which nature furnishes to our hands.
Out of this we are to build our homes,
clothe our bodies, and supply our daily
wants. By the application of these
forces and use of this material, we have
The combined capital of the firm of
the Rothcbild''8 is now placed by per-
sons who pretend to know at the sum of
!(;l,000,OOO.O0O, one-half of it gained with-
in the last twenty-five years, and the
whole of it in scarcely more than a cen-
tury. The founder of the famiy and
and fortune was Mayer Ansel, a poor
The minister's wife sat on the front-
porch mending the clothes of one of her i
numerous progeny. A neighbor passing- |
that way stopped in for a friendly chat.
A large work-basket half full of buttons
the floor of the porch. After
remarks of a gossipy nature, the
visitor said :
"You seem to be well supplied with
buttons, Mrs. Goodman."
"Yes, very well indeed."
"My gracious! if there ain't two of
the same buttons that my husband had
on his last winter suit ! I'd know 'em
" Indeed 1" said the minister's wife
calmly, " I'm surprised to hear it, as all
-^^^^
1 f^ ..^^"^^/^Ci^^^^ -^(fer^'tA^f^
-^yT-z^iyU ^'YZ.^^^'2<ryz^^c^^U:i^ly€.^y^
And though you're strong and sturdy
You may have ao empty purse
(And earth has many trials
Which I consider worse).
But whether joy or sorrow
Fill up your mortal span,
' i'will make your pathway brighter
To smile whene'er you can,
COURTESY AND CIVILITY IN BUSINESS'
Tliere are many who seem to be the
embodiment of perversity when the
question of courtesy in business is men-
tioned. They seem to have an idea
that when they put a price on their
goods and offer them to the public they
are proposing to give them full value
for their money, and that is all the peo-
ple have a right to expect. They argue
that they propose simply a fair exchange
and that is all that is necessary. They
claim that they don't sell their atten-
tions, don't want to sell them, only want
to sell their goods. They imagine that
they are trenching upon their own dig-
nity and self-respect, and declare that
they will not fawn upon and toady to
buyers and humiliate their own feelings
of pride.
Such persons are not very likely to
succeed in business to any great extent.
to those with whom he comes in
contact. Kind words not only turn
away wrath, but work wonders in mak-
ing friends and patrons, (rood will is a
recognized stock in business, and it is
but the result of fair dealing and kind
treatment. Courtesy and civility, with-
out any reference to one's goods, draws
people to us in every avenue of life, and
the lack of them as surely drives them
in the opposite direction, and he who
does not regard the feelings and tastes of
the people may as well shut up his busi-
ness doors and seek an employment
where association with others is not
necessary — Qein City Journal.
Henry Ward Beecher once said, "When
you educate a farmer you educate his
stock, his crops, you increase his pro-
ducing powers and the value of the
I property he invested in. When you ed-
I ucate mechanics, you educate better
products, finer things for the market.
When you educate men, you educate all
the material round about that comes
under their hands." This is being rea-
lized more and more every year and our
schools are being filled to overflowing
thus showing that education is a neces-
sary and a good thing in all classes of
business. — School Viaitor.
made of the world a comfortable place
in which to live, a grand theatre of ad-
tivities. The mental grasp of our activi-
ties, industries, commerce, institutions,
relations and affairs tax heavily the
powers of the great men of the world.
Men who have the capacity to organize,
direct and sustain these enterprises.hold
in proper order these elements, but they
give direction to vast multitudes of
human beings who have not the capac-
ity to direct themselves— the workers
of the world who are guided and in-
spired by the captains and leaders of
business.
The little time you will spend in busi-
ness preparation here will, I trust, fit
you to take a broad view of the world
of activities in which you are to enter,
and will enable you to occupy positions
of the highest usefulness and responsi-
bility in the world of business, and
tuake you ultimately, in the best sense of
the term, business men and women.
"You say not well, my friend, if you
think that a man who is good for any-
thing at all, ought to take into account
the chance of living or dying, and not
rather, when undertaking anything, to
consider only whether it be right or
wrong."
Rene* your subscription.
of these buttons were found in the con-
tribution box, I thought I might ag
well put thera to some use. so I— what,
must you go ? Well, be sure and call
again soon." —Uerchaiit Traveler.
THE CENTRE OF POPULATION.
The centre of population of the Uni-
ted States is steadily moving westward,
at the rate of about Bfty miles every ten
years. The following is the centre point
at each census:
1790—22 miles east of Bftltimore.
1800—18 miles west of Baltimore.
1810—40 miles northwest of Washing-
1820—16 mUes north of Woodstock, Va.
1830—19 miles west by southwest of
Moorefield, W. Va.
1840— l(i miles west of Clarksburg, W.
Va.
1850—23 miles southeast of Porkers-
burg. W. Va.
1800—20 miles south of Chillicothe. O.
1870—48 miles east by north of Cincin-
nati.
1880-8 miles west by south of Cin-
cinnati,
"Those in best repute seemed to me
not far from the most deficient; while
others held to be inferior, were really su-
perior, aa faras wisdom wasconcerned.'*
THE AMERICAN PENMAN.
BOOTS ^ SHOES.
GENSHEIIVlER8tBR0WM,
715 State Street,
AND RUBBER GOODS,
Qray Bros. Fine Shoes for Ladies,
Cox, Gardner & Dorris' Fine Oents' Shoes,
GOOD PENMANSHIP.
y floarlabed bird, 20
noorlBtaed iwan, 26 C
Copy llDM, p
PoaUl (tard re-
J(mTnaL"—Fyamk
Oem at}/ Bttsinetift College, Quinep, HI.
PRACTICAL SHORT HAND,
Or Seven Simple Principles.
"Stii(/l as SpeeoTi, Plain oa Print^ Basy as A B C
IN FOUIt WEES8, b; moll, 2 houra a daj, or 48
F«r fint leMon, •pecimeD and Ontline Book.iond K
E. J. MARCH, Pres. Sclo College. Sclo, 0.
The course of studv embraces the most thorough and complete theoretifai and actual business training in the world.
Scholarships good in either College. Students may enter at anv time with equal advantages.
LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, good in either College, entitUng the holder to ail the advantages of the Commercial Course' and
of reviewing at any future time, costs only $50.
Wood board can be had in either Erie or Buffalo at $3.50 per week.
Students enter into actual business practice as conducted between the two cities, affording advantages not approached
by any other Busuiess College. It will pay young men and women to attend either of these Colleges, as equal advantogea
are to be had in each scbooK
The Institutions are in direct communication with the leading business men in all parts of the country, [and students
are helped to the best positions obtainable, as graduates from these Colleges have no difficulty in securing honorable and
lucrative employment.
The Faculty are gentlemen of well-known ability and experience, and the propnetors will be pleased to furnish infor-
mation to those interested, upon application, either in person or by letter.
CLARK & JOHNSON,
Erie, Fa.., or Sviffalo, 3sr. -Z".
Job 1 Commercial Prmtiti^.
JSest Presses,
J3est Materia f,
13est Worftmeti.
In €v€i7 R«3|)«ct a first-Class £stabllsl)tn€tit.
EsTiNiATES Furnished Promptly.
"The American Penman "'and "Clark's Progressive Booli-lteeping'."
printed by the Dispatch Printing Company,
]Vo. 8 Sast Seven* ft St.,
£rie, l>'a.
A. H.CAUGHEY&SON,
Book^-sellepg, Stationers
HftTo the Largest and Beet Selected Slock of Books Id
Srie.
Also Steel En^raviogg, Arto-T^pea,
l*icture FromeH.
GOLD PENS, 6TYL00EAPBIC PKN8. ROGERS' FA-
MOUS STATUARY, PAPKB ANDKNVBLOPES
Sie Ncate St.,
1
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